Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, expressed his belief on Sunday that even if former President Trump were to be reelected and desired to sign a national abortion ban, it would be unlikely to happen due to insufficient support in Congress.
During an interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press,” Rubio was asked about his stance on Trump’s comment regarding the signing of a national abortion ban. Rubio responded by stating, “He won’t sign one because it’s not possible for us to pass it.”
He added, “I have never claimed that we have 60 votes in the Senate and votes in the House and everything else that goes in between.”
In a recent statement, Trump made it clear that he would not support a nationwide abortion ban if he were to be reelected and if such a bill were to be passed by Congress. He highlighted his belief that decisions regarding abortion policy should be made at the state level.
In April, when speaking to reporters, Trump expressed his belief that the power now lies with the states, emphasizing that they are shaping their own guidelines according to the will of the people.
Rubio indicated that Trump has shown a desire to engage in negotiations with Democrats on the matter.
Rubio stated that Trump’s intention is to negotiate with the Democrats, as he mentioned in this program. Rubio believes that in a country where the goal is to protect the lives of unborn humans, it is important to support laws that achieve this objective, even if they may not include everything he desires.
“He aspires to sign that law, but the reality is that he will never have the opportunity to do so because currently, we lack the necessary votes for its passage. However, it is important to note that this does not diminish the belief I hold regarding this matter,” he elaborated.
During an interview on “Meet the Press,” anchor Kristen Welker questioned Marco Rubio about former President Trump’s recent comment regarding Florida’s six-week abortion ban. Rubio, who is being considered as a potential vice-presidential candidate for Trump, was asked to respond to the former president’s characterization of the ban as a “terrible thing, a terrible mistake.”
Rubio seemed to avoid directly answering Welker’s question about whether Trump was incorrect on that particular issue.
Rubio expressed his support for laws that protect the lives of unborn human beings, highlighting his pro-life stance. He acknowledged that different individuals hold varying views on the matter. Rubio emphasized that the law in question was enacted by duly elected legislators in Florida, who are accountable to their constituents. House members face re-election every two years, while senators face re-election every four years.
“I understand that there are conflicting rights at play in this situation,” he expressed. “However, I lean towards supporting the sanctity of unborn human life, as I believe in upholding the dignity of all human beings. This is my perspective, and I advocate for our laws to align with it. Of course, there are individuals who hold different opinions.”
Welker followed up by asking Rubio if he disagreed with Trump’s opposition to Florida’s six-week ban and if he actually supports it.
Rubio responded by acknowledging the presence of varying opinions within the pro-life movement regarding the specifics of the law. He explained that some of the disagreements stem from practical considerations. Despite this, Welker persisted in questioning whether he supports the ban.
Rubio responded by expressing his support for any bill that aims to protect unborn human life. However, he made it clear that he does not view individuals within the pro-life movement who hold different opinions as apostates.
The Biden campaign swiftly dismissed Trump’s comments about not signing an abortion ban, citing his history on the issue as evidence that he would jeopardize access to the procedure if he were to be reelected.
“Donald Trump is a notorious liar,” expressed Ammar Moussa, spokesperson for the Biden campaign, on the social media platform X. “During his presidency in 2018, he openly supported a nationwide ban on abortion. Now, his supporters are actively discussing ways to impose such a ban, even if it means bypassing Congress. It’s truly absurd.”
As president, the White House under Trump’s administration backed a House bill that aimed to prohibit the majority of abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The Trump administration actively urged the Senate to pass the legislation and deliver it for the president’s approval. Unfortunately, the measure did not successfully pass through the Senate.
Abortion advocates have cautioned that access to abortion medication could be jeopardized in a second term of the Trump administration, irrespective of any federal abortion ban’s challenges in Congress.