Democratic nominee Kamala Harris dodged a question during Tuesday's debate on whether she would support "any restrictions" on abortion, saying only she supported Roe v. Wade and would sign a bill making it the law of the land if elected. Republican nominee Donald Trump pressed her on the issue, arguing that Roe allowed late-term abortion, including in the ninth month.
The Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade was a major theme of the first and potentially only debate between Harris and Trump, who are running to succeed outgoing President Joe Biden and who seemingly disagreed on every central issue. The debate was held in Philadelphia.
"Would you support any restrictions on a woman's right to an abortion?" moderator Lindsey Davis asked Harris.
The vice president, though, did not directly answer the question.
"I absolutely support reinstating the protections of Roe v. Wade," Harris responded.
Kamala Harris COMPLETELY DODGES a very simple question:
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 11, 2024
"Would you support any restrictions on a woman's right to an abortion?" pic.twitter.com/TdXTowZg7L
Harris then turned the issue to Trump's position and to IVF before she added, "The majority of Americans believe in a woman's right to make decisions about her own body."
Trump responded by calling himself a "leader" on IVF before pressing Harris on abortion.
"Will she allow abortion in the eighth month, ninth month, seventh month?"
"Come on," Harris said.
"Would you do that?" Trump asked.
Harris then asked Trump if he would veto a national abortion ban.
Trump, though, kept pressing her on late-term abortions.
"That's the problem -- because under Roe v. Wade, you could do abortions in the seventh month, the eighth month, the ninth month -- and probably after birth," Trump said. "Just look at the governor, former governor of Virginia. The governor of Virginia said we put the baby aside, and then we determine what we want to do with the baby."
Earlier in the debate, Trump dodged a question on whether he would veto a national abortion ban, seemingly contradicting a statement from his running mate, J.D. Vance.
"I didn't discuss it with J.D.," Trump said.
But Trump did say he would not sign such a ban.
"I'm not signing a ban. And there's no reason to sign a ban," he said. "... I'm not in favor of an abortion ban. But it doesn't matter because this issue has now been taken over by the states."
Bills that are not signed or vetoed by a president become law.
Trump also said he backed "exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother" in abortion.
Pro-life leaders said the debate exposed Harris' extreme views on abortion.
"When asked, Harris refuses to answer if she'd support any restrictions on abortion, which is, by default, abortion to the moment of birth," said Daniel Darling, director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement.
"The majority of Americans support abortion restrictions," said Lila Rose, president and founder of Live Action.
When asked, Harris refuses to answer if she'd support any restrictions on abortion, which is, by default, abortion to the moment of birth. https://t.co/og2hcW3iKm
— Daniel Darling (@dandarling) September 11, 2024
A 2024 Gallup poll found that 35 percent of Americans believe abortion should be "legal under any" circumstances, while a 2023 survey by the same organization found that only 37 percent support its legality in the second trimester, and just 22 percent believe it should be legal in the third.
Photo Credit:©Getty Images/Mason Trinca/Stringer
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.