Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio has vowed that he will not impose a federal abortion ban if former President Trump is re-elected, adding that he would veto any such bill if it were introduced.
“Democrats have been saying this week and beyond this week that if Donald Trump is elected, he will ban abortion by federal law. Now Donald Trump is saying he won’t. But can any senator sitting here with me today promise me that if you and Donald Trump are elected, they won’t ban abortion by federal law?” “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker asked Vance in an interview airing Sunday.
“Kristen, I can attest to that. Donald Trump has been as clear as possible on that. I think it’s important to take a step back and say, ‘What did Donald Trump actually say on the abortion issue, and how does that differ from what Kamala Harris and the Democrats have said?’ Donald Trump wants to end the culture war around this particular issue.”
“If California wants a different abortion policy than Ohio, Ohio has to respect California and California has to respect Ohio. Donald Trump’s idea is that we want to leave these decisions to the states and their individual cultures and their own political sensibilities, because we don’t want the federal government to be in constant conflict over this issue. The federal government should be focused on lowering food prices and housing prices – issues where, of course, Kamala Harris has utterly failed,” Vance continued.
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Former President Trump and Senator J.D. Vance appeared together on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 15, 2024. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Welker pressed Vance about Republicans’ plans to continue lobbying Trump for a federal abortion ban if the 45th president is re-elected, and asked whether Trump would veto such a bill in that scenario.
“I think we need to make it very clear that he’s not going to support that,” Vance said.
“But will he veto it?” Welker asked.
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“If you, as president of the United States, don’t support this, you have to essentially veto it,” Vance said.
“So would he veto a federal ban on abortion?” Welker asked again.
“I think he will. He’s made it very clear that he will,” Vance continued.
A Planned Parenthood mobile van offers free vasectomies and medication abortions near the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. (Fox News Digital)
Vance’s interview came after Vice President Kamala Harris formally accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last week. Democrats have stepped up their anti-Trump rally by arguing that if Trump is re-elected, he will impose a federal abortion ban, a claim Harris cited in her acceptance speech on Thursday night.
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“Children who have been sexually assaulted can be forced to continue their pregnancies. This is what is happening in our country because of Donald Trump. And understand: he’s not done yet. As part of his platform, he and his allies will limit access to birth control, ban medication abortions and enact nationwide anti-abortion laws, with or without Congress,” Harris said.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the Democratic National Convention at the United Center in Chicago on August 22, 2024. (Reuters/Brendan McDiarmid)
Trump has denied wanting to ban abortion at the federal level, arguing that abortion laws should be left up to states. During his presidency, he called on Congress to pass a bill banning abortions up to 20 weeks into a pregnancy.
The Trump-endorsed Republican platform’s soft language on abortion has irked some social conservatives.
Notably, the Republican 2024 platform only mentions abortion once, instead focusing on protecting life and returning power to the states in enacting abortion laws.
Former President Trump points after speaking about national security during a campaign rally at the North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame in Asheboro, North Carolina, on August 21, 2024. (Peter Zay/AFP via Getty Images)
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“We are proud to support family and life. We believe that the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees that no person shall be denied life or liberty without due process, and therefore states are free to make laws to protect these rights. Fifty-one years later, thanks to us, that power has been placed in the hands of the states and the people. We oppose late-term abortion, but support mothers and policies that promote prenatal care, access to contraception and IVF (infertility treatments). 5. We oppose late-term abortion, but support mothers and policies that promote prenatal care, access to contraception and IVF (infertility treatments),” the platform states.
Get the latest 2024 election campaign updates, exclusive interviews and more on Fox News Digital’s Election Hub.
