Donald Trump has said women should be "punished" if they have abortions, should they become illegal.
The Republican presidential frontrunner made the comments during a heated exchange at a town-hall event in Wisconsin over whether abortion should be banned.
He told US broadcaster MSNBC's Chris Matthews: “There has to be some form of punishment.”
Pressed by the journalist to explain further, he responded: “I haven't determined what the punishment should be."
Mr Trump said he was “pro-life with three exceptions”, but did not provide details as to what they were.
His possible White House rival Hillary Clinton was quick to react on Twitter.
The Democratic frontrunner said: “Just when you thought it couldn't get worse. Horrific and telling."
A statement issued later by Mr Trump's campaign said the abortion issue should be left to individual US states to determine.
Abortion has been legal in the United States since 1973 following a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
