Washington DC, July 17, :
US Vice President Kamala Harris vehemently criticized Ohio Senator JD Vance's stance on abortion rights in the wake of his formal acceptance of the candidacy as the incoming running mate of former President Donald Trump for president. In a statement, Harris criticized Vance for being on board with the "extreme" Project 2025 plan, which she said seeks to limit abortion access across the country. This is where Harris's remarks came from. J.D. Vance has made it clear that he intends to assist in carrying out the radical Project 2025 plan, which proposes a countrywide ban on abortion and restrictions on access to contraception, during a second Trump administration. This is going to put a stop to them," Harris wrote on X.
This backlash follows Vance's previous remarks in which he openly agreed with Trump that abortion regulation ought to be left to the states, not the federal government. Regardless, Vance seems to have taken a harder line in January 2022, when he spoke out in favor of a nationwide abortion ban and was sympathetic to federal efforts to limit abortion rights at the state level, according to CNN.
To stop women from going to states with more liberal abortion laws, Vance said on a podcast, "I certainly would like abortion to be illegal nationally," indicating his support for a comprehensive federal ban.
Vance recently spoke with Fox News, where he emphasized his agreement with Trump's stance, which calls for a decentralized system in which states determine their abortion regulations independently. "In my opinion, the Republican Party is headed by Donald Trump, and his views on abortion will have a disproportionate amount of influence and propel the party forward," Vance stated, arguing in favor of a policy that would allow states like California and Alabama to make separate decisions about abortion.
Since the Supreme Court's Dobbs ruling in 2022, which reversed Roe v. Wade and caused a chain reaction of legislative fights at the state level, the abortion rights dispute has remained a hotly contested topic in US politics. According to CNN, several Republican candidates lost the 2022 midterm elections in part because of their positions on abortion, highlighting a backlash against anti-abortion measures.
Vance is one of few Republicans who have adjusted his tone in light of the current political situation. After the Ohio constitutional amendment of 2023 safeguarded abortion rights, Vance personally criticized the Republican Party's abortion rhetoric, admitting that voters were skeptical of anti-abortion stances.
Vance brought up the recent attempt on Trump's life during the third night of the Republican National Convention, highlighting the tenacity and patriotism of the former president. Standing up to applaud as Ohio Senator Jim Vance took the stage, Trump sent a message of support to the 39-year-old lawmaker while watching the speech from inside the arena. Vance would join Trump as the second-youngest vice president in U.S. history if elected.
