Former President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he would veto any federal abortion ban if he is re-elected. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he stated, “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!).”
He emphasized his support for three exceptions to any abortion restrictions, specifically for cases of rape, incest, and when the mother’s life is at risk, drawing a parallel to Ronald Reagan’s stance.
During the CBS vice presidential debate between his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Trump reiterated his position. Although he has consistently claimed he would not endorse a federal ban, he previously avoided committing to veto such legislation during an ABC debate with Vice President Kamala Harris.
When asked about Vance’s earlier comments regarding his veto stance, Trump indicated he had not discussed the issue with Vance and suggested the senator was not speaking on his behalf.
Abortion remains a significant point of contention in the 2024 election, with Harris holding a clear advantage among voters, particularly women. Democrats have focused heavily on abortion rights in their campaign, emphasizing state-level restrictions that arose following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, largely due to Trump-appointed justices.
Historically, Democrats have fared well in elections centered around abortion, winning numerous statewide ballot measures on the issue even in conservative states. Recently, Trump has positioned himself as a “protector” of women, claiming that if elected, women would not be primarily concerned about abortion.