Trump: Shut down government over Planned Parenthood

Donald Trump says that he supports shutting down the government to defund Planned Parenthood in the wake of a series of controversial undercover videos of organization officials. 

{mosads}The Republican presidential contender was asked on “The Hugh Hewitt” show Monday night if he supported the move. “Well I can tell you this: I would,” Trump replied. 

Planned Parenthood has been under attack from Republicans over videos that show officials discussing the sale of fetal tissue for medical research. The pro-abortion rights group argues the videos have been heavily edited and are misleading and that it only accepts compensation to cover expenses. 

A procedural vote on the issue was filibustered by Democrats in the Senate on Monday.

Republicans were badly hurt in 2013 by the government shutdown, which was triggered by an effort to defund ObamaCare. 

Trump said he also supported the move to defund ObamaCare in 2013. 

“I was also in support if the Republicans stuck together you could have done it with ObamaCare also, but the Republicans decided not to stick together and they left a few people out there like Ted Cruz,” he said. “You know, they left a lot of the people that really went in and wanted to do the job and you know what? If they had stuck together they would have won that battle.”

“I think you have to in this case also, yes,” he added. 

Trump’s statement is sure to put more pressure on Republicans to back defunding of Planned Parenthood, especially as his remarks come days before the first GOP debate.

Trump has led a series of polls measuring the support of GOP presidential candidates.