 "Former US President Donald Trump has voiced support for exceptions to abortion restrictions in cases of rape, incest, and when the mother’s life is at risk Source: REUTERS / FILE.")
Former US President Donald Trump publicly stated that he would veto any national abortion ban if it were to reach his desk during a potential second term. This was the first time he clearly articulated this stance, which he shared on Truth Social amid the vice presidential debate between Sen. JD Vance (Republican nominee from Ohio) and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (Democrat).
In his post, Trump wrote, “Everyone knows I would not support a federal abortion ban, under any circumstances, and would, in fact, veto it, because it is up to the states to decide based on the will of their voters (The will of the people!).”
Interestingly, his latest comment follows his previous reluctance to directly address the issue during a presidential debate on September 10, where he repeatedly avoided the question of whether he would veto a national ban.
“I’m not in favour of an abortion ban, but it doesn’t matter, because this issue has now been taken over by the states,” he had said during that debate, adding, “I wouldn’t have to.”
A report in The Hill states that Trump is struggling with women voters and is finding it tough to find a message that resonates with them.
Concerns among Democrats persist that a Trump administration could impose national abortion restrictions or bans through the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that prohibits the mailing of abortion-related materials.
In response to Trump’s latest comments, Harris campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika criticised him, claiming he was “scrambling to try and clean up his disastrous debate performance.”
She added, “Women are living the consequences of the nightmare Trump created – and too many are losing their lives to extreme Trump bans. They will hold him accountable this November.”
Meanwhile, during the vice presidential debate, Walz shared stories of women whose lives have been endangered due to abortion restrictions in their states. Vance, on his part, acknowledged that Republicans need to improve their messaging on the issue. However, he also echoed Trump’s position that abortion should be left to state governments following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Also Read: Walz-Vance debate: US vice-presidential rivals spar over women’s autonomy on pregnancy
The Harris campaign has been focusing heavily on the abortion access issue, cautioning that a second Trump presidency could lead to further restrictions on reproductive healthcare. Vice President Harris has stated her intention to sign legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade into law, although such a measure faces significant obstacles in a narrowly divided Congress.
Trump has voiced his support for exceptions to abortion restrictions in cases of rape, incest, and when the mother’s life is at risk. He has also criticised Democrats for their support of late-term abortions without specifying any restrictions they would endorse.
With inputs from agencies