In a surprising move, former US President Donald Trump has declared that he would veto any national abortion ban if it were to reach his desk during a potential second term. This statement, made on the social media platform Truth Social, marks the first time he has explicitly articulated his position on this highly contentious issue. Trump’s statement came amid the vice presidential debate between Senator JD Vance (Republican nominee from Ohio) and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (Democrat), further fueling the ongoing debate over abortion access.
Trump’s declaration, “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!),” directly contradicts his previous evasive responses regarding a national ban. During a presidential debate on September 10, Trump repeatedly dodged the question of whether he would veto such a ban, stating instead, “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.”
Interestingly, Trump’s latest comment comes as reports emerge suggesting that he is facing a significant challenge in appealing to women voters. The Hill, a reputable news outlet, notes that Trump is struggling to find a message that resonates with women, particularly in the wake of the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. Democrats remain concerned that a second Trump administration could leverage the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that prohibits the mailing of abortion-related materials, to impose national abortion restrictions or even a complete ban.
Following Trump’s statement, Sarafina Chitika, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, accused him of “scrambling to try and clean up his disastrous debate performance.” She further criticized Trump’s record on abortion access, stating, “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, Governor Walz shared harrowing stories of women who have faced life-threatening situations due to abortion restrictions in their states. While acknowledging that Republicans need to improve their messaging on the issue, Vance echoed Trump’s position, advocating for state-level control over abortion following the Supreme Court’s decision.
The Harris campaign has been actively campaigning on the issue of abortion access, warning that a second Trump presidency could lead to further restrictions on reproductive healthcare. Vice President Harris has pledged to sign legislation codifying Roe v. Wade into law, although such a measure faces significant challenges in a narrowly divided Congress. Trump has expressed support for exceptions to abortion restrictions in cases of rape, incest, and when the mother’s life is at risk. However, he has also criticized Democrats for their support of late-term abortions without specifying any specific restrictions they would endorse.
