Former Vice President Mike Pence on Monday denounced his former boss’s announcement claiming abortion should be left to the states. He said Donald Trump helped end Roe v Wade, but Republicans no longer want to take responsibility for the issue.
“President Trump’s retreat on the Right to Life issue is a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life Americans who voted for him in 2016 and 2020,” Pence said in a post on X.
He continued: “By nominating and supporting their confirmation of conservative judges, the Trump-Pence administration has helped consign Roe v. Wade to the ash heap of history where it belongs and has galvanized the pro-life movement given the opportunity to compassionately support women and the unborn. children.’
Pence castigated GOP politicians, saying they’re ‘only too ready to wash their hands of the struggle for life.’
The former vice president claimed that Republicans “win life” when they “boldly speak the truth.”
He also swore that he would never give in’until we see the sanctity of life restored to the center of American law in every state of this country.”
Former Vice President Mike Pence blasted his former boss for his abortion announcement, calling the ex-president’s position a “slap in the face” for pro-life Americans
Pence’s harsh criticism came after Trump released a four-minute video on social media announcing his latest stance on abortion ahead of the 2024 election.
The long-awaited announcement followed months in which Trump delayed announcing his position on abortion as the issue has motivated Democrats since Roe was overturned.
Pence’s blistering post was one of several disappointments on Trump’s video from anti-abortion politicians and advocates on Monday who have been pushing for a federal abortion ban since Roe fell in 2022.
Trump released a four-minute video on Truth Social on Monday in which he asserted that he supports states’ right to pass laws regarding restrictions on abortion — and does not support a federal ban after previously indicating he supports a federal ban could come
Trump said Monday that it should be up to states to enact abortion laws and that he would not support a ban at the federal level, despite indicating last month that he might support it.
It followed reports that Trump was considering supporting a ban on 15-week abortions – meaning women would not be able to legally end their pregnancies after the first trimester.
“We have abortion where everyone wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine this by vote or legislation or maybe both, and whatever they decide should be the law of the land,” Trump, 77, said in the video.
Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America said in a statement Monday that the group is “deeply disappointed” in Trump’s position and said leaving the issue to the states “leaves the national debate to Democrats.”
The anti-abortion group said it will still “work tirelessly to defeat President Biden” in November.
Pence’s full response to Trump’s statement on abortion on Monday
Pence had previously said he would not support Trump in the 2024 election. The couple’s relationship soured after Pence sought to certify the 2020 election despite Trump’s false claims that the election was stolen.
Pence was the first vice president ever to participate in the anti-abortion March for Life rally in Washington, DC in 2017, just days after Trump took office.
Trump became the first sitting president to personally address the March for Life a few years later in 2020.
During the Trump administration, Pence pledged to help end abortion in the United States and advocated for Trump to appoint judges who would overturn Roe v Wade.
In his video, Trump thanked the six justices who overturned Roe and praised them for their “courage.” The ex-president said he was “proudly responsible” for ending Roe v Wade.