Democratic candidate Kamala Harris avoided a question during Tuesday's debate about whether she supported “any restrictions” on abortion, saying she supports Roe v. Wade and would sign a bill to make it the law of the land if elected. Republican candidate Donald Trump pressed Harris on the issue, arguing that Roe allows for late-term abortions, including in the ninth month of pregnancy.
The Supreme Court's 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was the central theme of the first, and perhaps only, debate between Harris, who is seeking to succeed outgoing President Joe Biden, and Trump, who do not appear to see eye-to-eye on any central issue. The debate took place in Philadelphia.
“Do you support any restrictions on a woman's right to an abortion?” host Lindsey Davis asked Harris.
However, the vice president did not directly answer the question.
“I fully support restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade,” Harris responded.
Kamala Harris completely dodged a very simple question.
“Do you support any restrictions on women's right to abortion?” pic.twitter.com/TdXTowZg7L
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 11, 2024
Harris then shifted the topic to Trump's stance and IVF, adding that “the vast majority of Americans believe that women have the right to make decisions about their own bodies.”
Trump responded by calling himself a “leader” for IVF, before pressing Harris on abortion.
“Would she allow an abortion in the eighth, ninth or seventh month of pregnancy?”
“Come on,” Harris said.
“Would you do that?” Trump asked.
Harris then asked Trump whether he would veto a nationwide abortion ban.
But Trump continued to press her about late-term abortions.
“That's the problem. Roe v. Wade allowed abortions at seven, eight, nine months and possibly even after birth,” Trump said. “You look at the former governor of Virginia, who said he was going to put the baby aside and then decide what to do with the baby.”
At the start of the debate, Mr. Trump dodged a question about whether he would veto a nationwide abortion ban, contradicting remarks made by his running mate, J.D. Vance.
“I didn't discuss that with J.D.,” Trump said.
But President Trump has made it clear that he will not sign such a ban.
“I'm not going to sign a ban. I see no reason to sign a ban,” he said. “I'm not in favor of an abortion ban, but that doesn't matter because the state governments have now taken over this issue.”
Any bill that the President does not sign or veto becomes law.
Trump also said he supports “exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother” when it comes to abortion.
Pro-life leaders said the debate revealed Harris' extreme views on abortion.
“Governor Harris refused to answer when asked whether she supported any restrictions on abortion up until birth,” said Daniel Darling, director of the RAND Cultural Exchange Center.
“The vast majority of Americans support abortion restrictions,” said Lila Rose, president and founder of Live Action.
Asked whether she would support any restrictions on abortion, which by default is abortion up to the moment of birth, Harris declined to answer whether she supported any restrictions on abortion. https://t.co/og2hcW3iKm
— Daniel Darling (@dandarling) September 11, 2024
2024 Gallup Poll The survey found that 35% of Americans believe abortion should be legal under “all” circumstances, while a 2023 survey by the same organization found that only 37% supported legalization during the first trimester and just 22% supported legalization during the third trimester.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Mason Trinca/Stringer
Michael Faust He has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years, and his work has appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Chronicle, Toronto Star and Knoxville News Sentinel.
