WASHINGTON D.C. — Former Vice President Mike Pence reiterated his call for a nationwide abortion ban on Monday, marking the two-year anniversary of the landmark Dobbs decision, and implicitly criticizing former President Donald Trump’s state-level approach to the issue.
In an op-ed for the conservative magazine National Review, Pence argued that leaving abortion legislation to individual states, as Trump advocates, is “to tolerate the height of injustice.” He stressed the importance of promoting the sanctity of life at both state and federal levels.
Pence’s Stand on Abortion
“We must work to advance the sanctity of life at every level, state and federal, though some in my party may disagree,” Pence wrote. “There is no reason for conservatives to abandon the fight for life at the federal level and focus exclusively on the states. We can and should do both.”
This stance is a clear rebuke to Trump, who has maintained that abortion should be a state issue, a position intended to avoid alienating swing voters. Pence did not mention Trump by name but his message was unmistakable.
Divisions Within the GOP
The disagreement between Pence and Trump highlights the ongoing struggle within the Republican Party to address abortion rights post-Roe v. Wade. While Pence celebrates the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade as a “historic victory 50 years in the making,” Trump has taken a more cautious approach, emphasizing state control over the issue.
Pence previously proposed a nationwide abortion ban at 15 weeks during his presidential bid. In contrast, Trump has celebrated the Dobbs decision but has distanced himself from federal abortion legislation, claiming it should be left to the states.
Pence’s Long-Standing Opposition to Abortion
Pence’s opposition to abortion is well-documented. As a House Representative, he introduced legislation repeatedly to block funding to any entity that provides abortion services through Title X. In his op-ed, Pence called for continued efforts to advance pro-life policies at all government levels.
“We took one crucial step closer to being a more compassionate nation the day Roe was wiped away,” Pence wrote. “Now the question facing the conservative movement, and our nation as a whole, is where we go from here.”
Trump’s Response
Trump has defended his approach, arguing that returning the issue to states aligns with long-held legal interpretations. Speaking to a group of conservative Christians, he said, “We have also achieved what the pro-life movement fought to get for 49 years, and we’ve gotten abortion out of the federal government and back to the states, the way everybody and all legal scholars always said it should be.”
Trump also supports access to in vitro fertilization, which has faced legal challenges in states like Alabama. While Pence has expressed support for fertility treatments due to personal struggles with infertility, he also praised the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision to restrict such procedures.
The Path Forward
As Pence and Trump continue to clash over the future of abortion legislation, the broader Republican Party faces the challenge of unifying its stance ahead of the upcoming elections. Pence’s call for federal action on abortion is likely to resonate with staunch pro-life supporters, while Trump’s state-focused approach aims to maintain broader appeal among swing voters.
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