Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) confirmed that if Donald Trump were re-elected as president, he would veto any federal abortion ban presented to him. “I think he would. He said that explicitly,” Vance stated during an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press on Sunday.
Throughout the interview, Vance reiterated that both Trump and the Republican Party believe abortion is an issue that should be decided by individual states, rather than through federal legislation. “If California wants to have a different abortion policy from Ohio, then Ohio has to respect California, and California has to respect Ohio,” Vance explained.
He further emphasized that Trump’s stance is rooted in the belief that states, with their unique cultures and political views, are better suited to make these decisions. “Donald Trump’s view is that we want the individual states and their individual cultures and their unique political sensibilities to make these decisions because we don’t want to have a nonstop federal conflict over this issue,” Vance added.
Trump echoed this sentiment on Friday, posting on Truth Social, “My Administration will be great for women and their reproductive rights.”
Despite these statements, Democrats have argued that Trump would push for a nationwide abortion ban or restrict access to birth control. “He and his allies would limit access to birth control, ban medication abortion, and enact a nationwide abortion ban with or without Congress,” Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris claimed during her acceptance speech at the DNC, as reported by Politico.
Meanwhile, Planned Parenthood made headlines last week by offering free abortions and vasectomies at the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, with all appointments being filled. The organization has previously faced controversy after being caught on video offering to sell aborted fetal tissue. In another controversial moment at the DNC, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) made a comment that was widely interpreted as wishing harm upon Vance’s family while discussing the topic of abortion.
During his Meet the Press interview, which covered various topics from abortion to tariffs, Vance stood by a past remark about “childless cat ladies” that had stirred both support among conservatives and anger among liberals. Vance stated he has no regrets about the comment.
“I’m going to say things from time to time that people disagree with,” Vance said. “I’m a real person. I’m going to make jokes, I’m going to say things sarcastically. I have a lot of regrets, Kristen [Welker], but making a joke three years ago is not at the top 10 of the list.”