JD Vance's Remarks on Trump's Abortion Stance Spark Conservative Outrage

Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance recently stated that Donald Trump would not support a national abortion ban if he becomes president and would veto such a bill if it reached his desk.

On a recent episode of news’ "Meet the Press," Vance confidently asserted, "I can absolutely commit that Trump would not impose a national abortion ban. Trump's perspective is that each state, with its unique culture and political views, should make these decisions to avoid ongoing federal conflicts over the issue."

Vance, an Ohio senator, further emphasized that Trump would veto any such legislation if it passed through Congress. He clarified, "If you’re not supporting it as president, you fundamentally have to veto it."

These comments come after Democrats repeatedly criticized Trump during their national convention in Chicago last week. They highlighted his role in appointing the Supreme Court Justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion in the United States and allowing bans and restrictions in Republican-led states.

However, Vance's attempt to downplay the issue, which Democrats hope will motivate voters this fall, risks alienating Trump’s base that opposes abortion rights.

"God have mercy on this nation if this is now the position of what was the Pro-Life Party," wrote Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, in a post linking to a news story about Vance’s comments.

While Trump often boasts about his role in overturning Roe, he recently pushed back against Democratic claims that he would further restrict abortion access if re-elected. "My Administration will be great for women and their reproductive rights," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, using language typically associated with abortion rights activists.

This statement drew criticism from anti-abortion advocates, including the editor of the conservative National Review, which published an article titled, "Trump’s Abandonment of Pro-Lifers Is Complete."

Trump reiterated his stance at a recent event in Las Vegas, saying, "I’m very strong on women’s reproductive rights. The IVF (in vitro fertilization), very strong. I mean, we’re leaders in it. And I think people are seeing that."

Democrats have responded to Trump’s statements with skepticism. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren told news, "American women are not stupid, and we will not trust the futures of our daughters and granddaughters to two men who have openly bragged about blocking access to abortion across this country."

When asked about Trump’s stance on reproductive rights, Trump ally Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina deflected, saying, "You need to ask him about that. What I would say is that President Trump was a very good pro-life president."

Graham added that "the pro-life community is organized around the well-being of the child, giving the mother options other than abortion," and he believes this movement will continue even after Trump’s tenure.

Trump has often struggled to address the topic of abortion. Before entering politics, he described himself as "very pro-choice." Earlier this year, he wavered on his stance regarding a federal abortion ban, at one point suggesting he would support one around 15 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest, and when the mother's life is at risk. He later settled on the position that restrictions should be left to individual states.

Trump has not yet indicated how he plans to vote on an upcoming ballot measure concerning Florida’s six-week abortion ban.

In a recent interview with news, Trump said he had "no regrets" about his role in overturning Roe v. Wade. However, after months of unclear statements, he confirmed that he would not use a federal law known as the Comstock Act to ban the distribution of medication that serves as an alternative to surgical abortions. This is despite some of his allies advocating for such a measure, a position Vance has supported in the past.

"We will be discussing specifics of it, but generally speaking, no," Trump said. "I would not do that. It’s going to be available, and it is now. And as I know it, the Supreme Court has said: ‘Keep it going the way it is.’ I will enforce and agree with the Supreme Court, but basically, they’ve said, keep it the way it is now."

Abortion has been a key issue for Democrats since the Roe decision in the summer of 2022, and they expect it to continue playing a significant role this year. At the Democratic convention, women shared personal stories of being forced to carry unviable pregnancies to term and being denied care for miscarriages, risking their future fertility.

"This is what’s happening in our country because of Donald Trump. And understand, he is not done," Vice President Kamala Harris said during her speech accepting her party’s nomination.

Responding to Harris’s speech in real-time, Trump falsely claimed, "Everybody, Democrats, Republicans, Liberals, and Conservatives, wanted Roe v. Wade TERMINATED, and brought back to the States."

"I do not limit access to birth control or I.V.F. - THAT IS A LIE, these are all false stories that she’s making up," Trump wrote. "I TRUST WOMEN, ALSO, AND I WILL KEEP WOMEN SAFE!"