North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a Republican and former President Donald Trump’s leading running mate, said Sunday that his position on abortion access has “evolved” in the eight years since he suggested women were unsafe before Roe v. Wade.
During an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” anchor Kristen Welker questioned Burgum about a clip he aired during his 2016 gubernatorial campaign in which he expressed concerns about criminalizing abortion.
“Banning and making abortion illegal makes it unsafe for some of the most vulnerable people in the world: young women who are scared, afraid and in unwanted situations,” Burgum said in a video in 2016. “Even before Roe v. Wade, America has not been a safe place for women.”
Burgum said Sunday that his views on the issue have changed since the Supreme Court struck down a constitutional right to abortion two years ago, and sought to align his current position on abortion with that of the former president.
Welker followed up the video by asking, “So Governor, by your own standards, America is less safe for women as a result of Roe being overturned?”
“No,” Burgum responded, “and of course it was to be returned to the United States.”
“Let me be clear: that was stated over eight years ago, and of course I have evolved from that position,” he said, explaining that he now believes abortion laws should be left to individual states.
“I’ve been very vocal about my opposition to a federal ban on abortion, I align with President Trump on this, and this is something that should be up to the states,” Burgum said.
Asked whether his desire to be Trump’s vice president had changed his mind, Burgum denied it, saying the key difference was the quality of care for mothers and babies.
“Not at all,” Burgum said about whether his progress has anything to do with his prospects as a vice presidential candidate. “I think you and everybody else knows that medical care has advanced over this time period, and I think we can accomplish both of those goals. We can ensure that we protect and respect life, but at the same time, we can ensure that we provide maternal health care. And that’s something that’s best addressed on a state-by-state basis.”
