Republican vice presidential nominee Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio said that if Donald Trump were elected president, he would not support a nationwide ban on abortion and would veto such a bill if it reached his desk.
Speaking on NBC's “Meet the Press” on Saturday, Vance said he “can absolutely promise you” that Trump will not impose such a ban, adding that the president's position on this is “as clear as possible.”
He further explained:
Donald Trump's view is that he wants each state to make a decision based on its own culture and its own political sensibilities, to avoid constant conflict between the federal government over the issue.
As an example, he emphasized that if California “want a different abortion policy than Ohio, Ohio must respect California and California must respect Ohio.”
It is noteworthy that after Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022, California’s “distinctive political sensibilities” were reflected in legislative actions that could only be described as extreme. The state not only enshrined the right to abortion in its constitution, but also passed laws protecting out-of-state residents seeking abortions, allowing non-physicians to perform abortions, and using taxpayer funds to cover the costs of abortions.
Vance's comments underscore a major shift in Republican thinking on abortion, from a focus once centered on the moral belief that life begins at conception and that abortion is morally tantamount to murder to a focus now centered on positioning abortion as a legal issue for states to appropriately manage.
Trump: 'Great for women and their reproductive rights'
President Trump has long been praised by pro-lifers for his role in appointing the Supreme Court justices that overturned Roe v. Wade, but his recent comments signal a shift away from a seemingly pro-life position that fundamentally values all lives.
For example, Trump wrote on his platform, Truth Social, on Friday that his administration would “be great for women and their reproductive rights,” adopting clearly pro-abortion language.
Trump reiterated this position at an event in Las Vegas on the same day, reiterating his strong support for women's “reproductive rights,” including the controversial in vitro fertilization (IVF) process. Citing his role in overturning Roe v. Wade, he said, “everyone wanted it to come back to the states.” But he cited Minnesota's “radical” policy of not placing any gestational age limits on abortion. “In Minnesota, you have the right to kill a baby after it's born,” Trump lamented, reiterating his respect for states' right to legislate on the issue.
President Trump has recently made comments suggesting he is willing to compromise on the issue of abortion, sparking discontent among some pro-lifers.
For example, he drew sharp criticism from pro-life groups last week when he said he would not use the Comstock Act, which bans the delivery of abortion pills by mail, if he was re-elected.
Shift from previous position
Moreover, Trump's refusal to support a nationwide abortion ban, instead emphasizing leaving abortion laws up to the states, is seen by some pro-lifers as a major departure from his previous campaign promises. This shift has sparked backlash from pro-life leaders, who feel that Trump has abandoned their cause in favor of political expediency. “Trump's abandonment of pro-lifers is now complete,” wrote the editors of National Review, arguing that “overturning Roe was only a necessary first step in a longer fight to protect the lives of unborn children.”
As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump described himself as “pro-life” and went so far as to suggest “some kind of punishment” for women who abort their unborn children.
Similarly, Vance has recently come out as a staunch pro-life advocate, supporting a nationwide abortion ban and likening abortion to slavery.
Changing course for the 2024 Republican National Convention
Trump and his running mate aren't the only ones who have changed their stance. The 2024 Republican National Platform marks a major shift in the party's approach to abortion and the value of unborn life. Unlike the previous platform, which explicitly called for federal restrictions on abortion, the new platform emphasizes a more decentralized approach.
The 2016 Republican Party platform made that position clear.
The Constitution guarantees that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property, which purposefully echoes the Declaration of Independence's declaration that “all men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights to life.” Therefore, we affirm the sanctity of human life and recognize that the unborn has a fundamental right to life that cannot be infringed.
The group also advocated for “legislation to clarify that the Constitution's Human Life Amendment and the protections of the 14th Amendment apply to unborn children.”
In contrast, the 2024 platform leaves it up to states to enact laws recognizing the fetus as a person under the 14th Amendment. The platform opposes late-term abortion and focuses on promoting policies that support prenatal care, access to contraception (many of which act as abortifacients), and access to in vitro fertilization.
The dramatic expansion of abortion access in liberal states
Since the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022, several liberal states have enacted radical measures to expand access to abortion. States such as California, Vermont, and Michigan have taken the unusual step of incorporating abortion “rights” into their state constitutions, ensuring that these “rights” will be protected regardless of future federal policies or court rulings.
These states, and others including New York, Colorado, Illinois, Oregon, Maryland, New Jersey, and Connecticut, have passed constitutional amendments and other legislation that significantly expands access to abortion services and provides comprehensive legal protections for both patients and providers. Additionally, some states have launched state-funded programs specifically designed to assist women seeking abortions, including some with more restrictive laws.
Needless to say, this aggressive expansion not only undermines pro-life values, but also ignores the sanctity of life and the rights of the unborn.
