Sunday Snapshot: Trump's ambiguous abortion messaging
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Former President Trump greets supporters before offering remarks during an event on August 21, 2024 in Asheboro, North Carolina. Photo: Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Images
On Friday, former President Trump posted to Truth Social: "My Administration will be great for women and their reproductive rights." In an interview that aired Sunday, his running mate told NBC News Trump would veto a federal abortion ban.
While Trump, who has touted himself as the person who "was able to kill Roe v. Wade," appears to be softening his messaging on abortion, his campaign surrogates are being pressed to clarify his changing stance on the issue.
Here's what you may have missed when newsmakers hit the airwaves this Sunday, August 25.
1. GOP lawmakers struggle with Trump's abortion policies
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), pressed on the former president's post about abortion, argued Sunday, "The only candidate here proposing a national abortion law is Kamala Harris."
Why it matters: Trump's decision not to back a national ban has elicited disappointment from anti-abortion groups who favor national restrictions.
- Philip Klein, the editor of the conservative National Review Online, wrote Friday in a piece titled "Trump's Abandonment of Pro-Lifers Is Complete," that with his Truth Social post, "Trump will further alienate pro-lifers and divide his own party while doing absolutely zero to win over anybody pro-choice."
- While the former president once hinted he would be in favor of a national abortion ban, he announced earlier this year in a video shared on Truth Social that he believes the issue should be left up to states to decide.
Zoom in: Cotton, speaking to ABC's Jon Karl on "This Week," argued, "Donald Trump has been consistent; he said that Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided."
- But Cotton repeatedly pointed to Harris' abortion stance when pressed about Trump's, arguing Democrats promote abortion "up to the moment of birth" (Harris has called for Roe — which protected abortion prior to viability — to be codified).
- Harris said in an interview last year that GOP allegations that Democrats want to allow abortion until birth were "ridiculous." She has repeatedly called to restore protections under Roe but has not endorsed specific limits on how late the procedure should be permitted.
- Abortions that occur at 21 weeks gestation or later are rare, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and abortions later in pregnancy often occur because of danger to the mother's life or fetal anomalies.
Flashback: Trump has previously said he would "look at" a 15-week federal ban proposed by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) if it was passed by Congress.
- Asked Sunday about Trump's recent post, Graham told CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union," "You need to ask him about that."
- "My position has always been to be against late-term abortion. It's a state issue up to a point," Graham said, highlighting his 15-week bill.
- He said he does not believe Trump will win or lose the election based on his stance on abortion but added, "I do believe, if you're pro-life, Harris and Walz are a nightmare to you."
2. Vance: "Childless cat ladies" not high among regrets
GOP vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) said in an interview with "Meet the Press" that while "I regret ... that a lot of people took it the wrong way," his past comment about "childless cat ladies" is not high among his list of regrets.
Why it matters: The statement, made during a 2021 "Tucker Carlson Tonight" interview has been repeatedly framed by Vance as a sarcastic comment underscoring his view of an "anti-family" country and haunted his reputation throughout the campaign.
Driving the news: Vance, who has made several recent television appearances as the GOP campaign shapes its strategy against Harris, was pressed yet again on the comment, telling NBC News' Kristen Welker he made "a joke" in "the service of a real substantive point."
- He added: "I have a lot of regrets, Kristen, but making a joke three years ago is not at the top ten of the list."
3. Trump, RFK JR. discussed creating a "unity government"
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he reached out to other presidential campaigns "on the same basis" on which he spoke to Trump, including the Harris camp, before suspending his campaign Friday.
Catch up quick: Multiple outlets reported earlier this month that Kennedy reportedly sought a discussion through intermediaries about endorsing Harris in exchange for a role in the administration.
- But after those reports, Kennedy lambasted Harris on social media and wrote, "I have no plans to endorse Kamala Harris for President. I do have a plan to defeat her."
Driving the news: Trump, he said, ultimately invited him to "form a unity government." The two spoke after the assassination attempt on Trump and had two extensive meetings after that, he said.
- He affirmed his decision was not fueled by revenge, nor was a commitment made for a Trump administration cabinet post.
Friction point: Several members of the Kennedy family denounced his endorsement.
- His brother, Max Kennedy, wrote in an LA Times op-ed that he's "heartbroken" over the endorsement.
- "With a heavy heart, I am today asking my fellow Americans to do what will honor our father the most: Ignore Bobby and support Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic platform," the op-ed read.
What they're saying: Speaking to Fox News' Shannon Bream, Kennedy said of his family, "I understand that they're troubled by my decisions, but ... I love my family."
More from Axios' Sunday coverage:
