Representative Steve King, a Republican from Iowa and an outspoken abortion opponent, defended his controversial anti-abortion comments on Friday, reiterating his belief that victims of rape and incest should not be allowed to have an abortion.

"Every life is precious, no matter what the circumstances are or how they came to be," King said in a news conference. King said that any Republican politician who supported abortion exceptions for victims of rape and incest weren't truly "philosophically pro-life" but rather using the controversial topic for political gain within the party.

King quoted the Bible to defend his stance, saying, "The son shall not bear the crimes of the father, nor the father bear the crimes of the son."

King was joined by other anti-abortion rights activists who defended his statements and shifted the blame to "the media" who they believe misconstrued his comments to say he was in favor of rape and incest. Speakers included Save the 1 President Rebecca Kiessling, Iowa Right to Life Executive Director Caitlyn Dixson, Iowans for Life Executive Director Maggie DeWitte, Personhood Iowa Executive Director Tim Overlin and "Truth of Our Time" host Tamara Scott.

King came under fire last week for defending his "no exceptions" stance by publicly asking whether there would be "any population of the world" left, if not for those born out of rape or incest.

"What if we went back through all the family trees and just pulled out anyone who was a product of rape or incest?" the politician said at an event in Urbandale, Iowa, on August 14. "Would there be any population of the world left if we did that?" 

The comments received widespread backlash from both Democrats and Republicans, including many abortion opponents who said his remarks weren't reflective of the majority of anti-abortion activists' views.