Donald Trump said "there has to be some form of punishment" for women who have abortions, but now the Republican presidential candidate has changed course.

After his comments set off a firestorm, Trump said "the doctor or any other person performing this illegal act upon a woman would be held legally responsible, not the woman."

A woman who has an abortion, Trump said in the statement, "is a victim in this case as is the life in her womb."

Trump's initial comments about abortion, rebuked by progressive Democrats and anti-abortion rights activists alike, were made during a town hall forum with MSNBC's Chris Matthews.

During the interview, Trump — who describes himself regularly as "pro-life" — called abortion a "very serious problem."

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When Matthews questioned him about how an abortion ban would actually work, Trump said, "You go back to a position like they had where they would perhaps go to illegal places."

"But you have to ban it," he said.

Matthews then put the question more forcefully, asking Trump, "You're about to be chief executive of the United States. Do you believe in punishment for abortion, yes or no?"

"The answer is, there has to be some form of punishment," Trump responded.

The comments drew swift rebukes from Democratic presidential candidates and progressives, as well as some Republicans.

Just when you thought it couldn't get worse. Horrific and telling. -H https://t.co/Qi8TutsOw9 — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) March 30, 2016

Your Republican frontrunner, ladies and gentlemen. Shameful. https://t.co/y49Z8YfRgV — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 30, 2016

Trump's Republican opponents were also quick to respond.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich told MSNBC that he "absolutely" did not agree with Trump's statement and that "of course women shouldn't be punished."

"I think probably Donald Trump will figure out a way to say that he didn’t say it or he was misquoted or whatever, but I don’t think so," Kasich said. "I don’t think that’s an appropriate response and it’s a difficult enough situation then to try to punish somebody."

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said that Trump's comments show that he "hasn't seriously thought through the issues, and he'll say anything just to get attention."

"Being pro-life is not simply about the unborn child; it's also about the mother — and creating a culture that respects her and embraces life," he said. "Of course we shouldn't be talking about punishing women; we should affirm their dignity and the incredible gift they have to bring life into the world."

Planned Parenthood's president, Cecile Richards, said on Wednesday that Trump is "vocalizing the motivations of every politician who votes to restrict access to abortion."

.@realDonaldTrump is vocalizing the motivations of every politician who votes to restrict access to abortion. It's about controlling women. — Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) March 30, 2016

Trump has a history of flip-flopping on abortion

Trump has, at times, defended Planned Parenthood.

In a debate earlier this year, Trump said "millions and millions of women are helped" by Planned Parenthood. However, he added that he'd defund it anyway due to the abortion services provided.

Marcy Stech, communications director for EMILY's List, a group that helps elect female candidates to public office, said Republicans are on the cusp of nominating a "truly dangerous man to lead their fight to restrict women’s access to abortion."

“The last person women need to police their health care decisions is someone who sees them not as people, but as ‘fat pigs,’ ‘bimbos,’ and ‘disgusting animals,'" she said.

Abortion came up earlier this year when Trump was campaigning in Iowa, a state ripe with evangelical voters.

In 1999, Trump said that though he hated the "concept of abortion," he considered himself "pro-choice."

"All I can tell you is this: I'm pro-life and I've been pro-life a long time," Trump said during a press conference.

Trump was also asked what penalties he would support for women who undergo abortions or doctors who provide them.

"I just don't want to talk about that right now," he said at the time. "Everybody knows my views and I think my views are very plain."

While Trump is campaigning for the Republican nomination as an opponent of abortion rights, he had a different view in the past. In 1999, he said that though he hated the "concept of abortion," he considered himself "pro-choice."

Anti-abortion rights groups have also been deeply skeptical of Trump's conversion from abortion rights supporter to opponent.

In an open letter in January, a group of 10 women who oppose abortion rights penned called on voters to support "anyone but Donald Trump." They suggested that the businessman "cannot be trusted" on the issue of "defending unborn children and protecting women from the violence of abortion."

A top staffer for Cruz suggested similarly on Wednesday that Trump was not authentically "pro-life."

Don't overthink it: Trump doesn't understand the pro-life position because he's not pro-life. — Brian Phillips (@RealBPhil) March 30, 2016

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