Noem says abortion laws should be determined by the state

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) on Sunday sided with former President Trump on the abortion issue, saying the state should decide the law.

CNN’s Dana Bash asked Noem on “State of the Union” whether she supports President Trump’s position that abortion laws are left up to each state to decide, and that Noem, while a member of the House of Representatives, has She noted that she co-sponsored a bill to ban abortion. Noem explained that his position on abortion laws has changed since Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022.

“When Roe v. Wade was overturned, the environment changed. It returned power to the United States. This is appropriate, and Donald Trump is exactly right. Each state’s law It depends on what the people in that state want their laws to be about,” Noem said.

“And we should focus on women who are in crisis, who are in unprecedented situations, who need help and support and all the information they can get. , the laws in my state may look different than what’s happening in California, Arizona, and New York, and I think that’s completely appropriate,” she added.

Earlier this month, President Trump broke with several members of his party who believe abortion should be banned at the federal level, saying he believes each state should decide its own abortion laws. President Trump also said he would not sign any federal abortion ban.

After Roe v. Wade was overturned, Noem said doctors who perform abortions would be subject to prosecution in her state under new trigger laws in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling. South Dakota’s ban prohibits all abortions except to protect the life of a pregnant woman.

“I may be pro-life, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I’m a dictator and get to decide that. Donald Trump recognizes the constitutional powers of the states, and I love that. “I’m glad that we have someone running for president who actually follows the Constitution and recognizes that the appropriate decision on this issue is at the state level,” she said on CNN.

When asked further whether she thought South Dakota’s abortion laws went too far, Noem said that’s what the people of the state want. The state’s anti-abortion law does not allow exceptions in cases of rape or incest.

“But I think our law today is what South Dakota wants. They’ll continue to have that discussion going forward, and I think we’ll make sure the will of the people is enforced.” “I will continue to fulfill my role,” she said. she said.