US Vice President Kamala Harris strongly criticized Ohio Senator JD Vance’s stance on abortion rights following his acceptance of the nomination as former President Donald Trump’s running mate for the upcoming presidential election. Harris’s remarks came in a statement where she denounced Vance’s alignment with what she characterized as the “extreme” Project 2025 plan, which aims to enforce nationwide restrictions on abortion.
“In no uncertain terms, J.D. Vance intends to advance the Project 2025 plan during a potential second Trump administration, which outlines measures to limit access to contraception and outlaw abortion across the nation. We will oppose these efforts,” Harris stated in a post on X.
Harris’s critique follows Vance’s recent statements in which he publicly supported Trump’s perspective that abortion policy should be determined by individual states rather than federal mandates. Despite this stance, Vance’s earlier comments from January 2022 revealed a stricter position, as he voiced backing for a national ban on abortion and expressed sympathy toward federal actions counteracting state-level abortion rights, as reported by CNN.
During a podcast at the time, Vance had remarked, “I strongly advocate for a national ban on abortion,” indicating his endorsement of a broad federal prohibition to prevent women from seeking abortions in states with more lenient laws.
However, in a recent interview on Fox News, Vance underscored his endorsement of Trump’s approach, which advocates for a decentralized strategy allowing states like Alabama and California to independently decide their abortion policies. “I believe Donald Trump is the leader of the Republican Party, and his stance on abortion will shape and drive the party’s agenda moving forward,” Vance asserted, advocating for a framework where states can diverge in their approaches to abortion.
The debate over abortion rights remains a polarizing issue in US politics, particularly following the Supreme Court’s 2022 Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and triggered a wave of state-level legislative battles. The 2022 midterm elections underscored a backlash against anti-abortion policies, with many Republican candidates suffering electoral losses partly due to their positions on abortion, according to CNN.
Responding to this shifting political landscape, numerous Republicans, including Vance, have adjusted their rhetoric. Vance himself criticized the Republican Party’s messaging on abortion following Ohio’s 2023 constitutional amendment protecting abortion rights, acknowledging voter skepticism toward anti-abortion stances.
During his address on the third night of the Republican National Convention, Vance also addressed the recent assassination attempt on Trump, highlighting the former president’s resilience and dedication to the nation. Trump, watching from inside the arena, stood to applaud as Vance took the stage, signaling his endorsement of the 39-year-old senator from Ohio.
If elected alongside Trump, Vance would become the second youngest vice president in American history.