A federal ban on abortion would be vetoed by former president Trump, who stated on Tuesday that he would do so if reelected.
“I would never, ever support a federal ban on abortion and would even veto such a bill if it were proposed. The decision should be made by the states in accordance with the will of the people!” As his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz faced off in the vice presidential debate on CBS, Trump made an all-caps statement on his Truth Social platform.
“I wholeheartedly endorse the three exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother,” Trump concluded, echoing Reagan’s position.
Although he has stated time and time again that he will not sign a nationwide ban on abortion, the GOP nominee backed down during last month’s debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on ABC, saying he “wouldn’t have to” rather than vetoing the measure.
Trump claimed he hadn’t discussed the matter with Vance, stating, “I don’t think he was speaking for me,” in response to a question during that debate regarding Vance’s statement to NBC News that the former president would veto such legislation.
The 2024 contest has revolved around the contentious topic of abortion, with Harris holding a strong advantage. She has a slight advantage among female voters in swing states and the country as a whole because of that. This year, Democrats have focused heavily on abortion rights, citing the possibility of state-level limitations brought about by the 2022 decision of Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices to vote in favor of the majority and overturn Roe v. Wade.
Since the Supreme Court ruling, abortion has been a hotly contested topic in many elections, with Democrats holding a commanding lead. Meanwhile, pro-choice advocates have succeeded in passing multiple statewide ballot initiatives, including in areas with a strong Republican majority.
Trump has now begun to portray himself as a “protector” of women, asserting that American women will not be “considering abortion” under his administration.
