Vice presidential hopeful Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) defended former President Trump’s stance on abortion pills, maintaining he wants “these decisions to be made by the states” amid reports the former president recently suggested an openness to curbing access to the pills.
CBS News “Face the Nation” anchor Margaret Brennan, speaking with Vance Sunday, pointed to last week’s news conference, when Trump was asked if he would take other actions to limit access to abortion besides a federal ban, such as directing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to curb access to mifepristone.
“Sure, you could, you could do things that will be, would supplement — absolutely. And those things are pretty open and humane,” Trump said in response. “There are many things on a humane basis that you can do outside of that, but you also have to give a vote, and the people are going to have to decide.”
Some interpreted the remark as Trump was leaving the door open on abortion pill restrictions.
When Brennan asked Vance if he believed Trump’s statement was wrong, the Ohio Republican suggested his running mate may not have heard the person “super clearly.”
“First of all, even some of the reporters who were in the room at that press conference said it wasn’t clear what the reporter was asking. Maybe he couldn’t hear that person super clearly. So I don’t want to put words in President Trump’s mouth,” he answered.
“What he said very clearly in the debate is that he agrees with the Supreme Court decision, but more importantly, he wants these decisions to be made by the states. I think that is the President Trump vision for the Republican Party,” he added.
Vance was referencing Trump’s comments during the June presidential debate, in which he said he would not block access to mifepristone. He said he supported the Supreme Court’s decision in June that it would separately uphold access to the abortion bill.
Trump has said he would not support federal restrictions on abortion and has argued that the issue should be left up to the states. At the same time, he has also taken credit for overturning Roe v. Wade after he nominated three conservative justices who formed the majority opinion.
“I think his view on this has been very clear,” Vance added. “And I’ve just articulated it.”
The Republican vice presidential candidate said he and Trump want to ensure the FDA is prescribing the abortion pills in “a safe way.”
“Again, you want the states to make these determinations, you also want to make sure the FDA is ensuring that these medications are safe for anybody who’s taking them,” Vance said.
Brennan interjected, noting mifepristone has been on the market for decades and approved by the FDA.
“Antibiotics are safe, but we want to make sure they’re prescribed by doctors, and the doctors are properly monitoring this stuff so that people don’t get hurt,” Vance answered, adding he believes “six questions” of the interview focused on abortion.
“I’m still trying to get a clear answer,” Brennan responded. “So for an FDA…commissioner that you would be part of choosing, where that commissioner stands on this drug, would that determine whether or not they are chosen to be put in this key role?”
Vance argued Trump believes there “are not litmus tests” on the specific issue.
“He just wants to make sure that drugs are safe and effective before they’re out there in the market, and, of course, that doctors are properly controlling this stuff so that people don’t get hurt,” he said. “And again, Margaret, I mean, we talk about abortion, I think President Trump’s views on abortion are extremely clear.”