Senator J.D. Vance, a Republican from Ohio, made a surprising claim on Saturday that former President Donald Trump would reject a federal abortion ban if he were to regain the presidency.
During an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, Vance confidently stated that Trump and he, if elected, would not impose a nationwide abortion ban. Instead, Trump’s stance is that individual states should have the authority to make their own decisions on the matter, allowing them to reflect their unique cultural and political values.
Vance emphasized that the federal government’s focus should be on pressing economic and immigration issues, such as rising food and housing costs, rather than getting entangled in the contentious debate over abortion. By leaving the decision-making to the states, Trump aims to avoid a prolonged federal conflict over the issue.
When pressed by host Kristen Welker about whether Trump would veto a federal abortion ban if it landed on his desk, Vance replied, “I think he would. He’s explicitly stated that he would.”
Vance’s comments come at a time when Democrats are trying to link Trump to a potential federal abortion ban if he’s re-elected. Vice President Kamala Harris took to X on Saturday, asserting that Trump’s appointment of three Supreme Court justices was a deliberate move to overturn Roe v. Wade, and that if re-elected, he would sign a national abortion ban.
However, Trump’s recent statement on Truth Social, in which he claimed his administration would be “great for women and their reproductive rights,” has drawn criticism from anti-abortion advocates. They argue that the phrase “reproductive rights” is a euphemism for abortion.
Former Vice President Mike Pence was among those who criticized Trump’s statement, accusing him of using “the language of the Left.” The Republican Party’s decision to drop language advocating federal abortion limits from its party platform in July has also sparked debate. The revised platform focuses on opposing late-term abortion and supporting policies that promote prenatal care, access to birth control, and fertility treatments.
