Originally published July 26, 2023 8:45 am PDT
In an unexpected stance, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful and former Vice President Mike Pence has voiced support for federal legislation permitting abortion up to the 15th week of pregnancy.
This proposal conflicts with the viewpoints of many of his pro-life counterparts, including former President Donald Trump, LifeSiteNews points out.
During an interview on CNN, Pence declared, “I think creating a minimum national standard for after a child is able to feel pain in the womb is an idea whose time has come.”
On Twitter, he wrote, “I’m #ProLife and I don’t apologize for it and I do believe the time has come for us to establish a minimum national standard of 15 weeks. I think creating a minimum national standard for when a child is able to feel pain in the womb is an idea whose time has come.”
His opinion aligns with a June poll that found that a significant 77% of Americans support imposing restrictions on elective abortions at least up to the first 15 weeks.
He elaborated on his intent to foster this policy if he secures the presidency, vowing, “And if I’m president of the United States, I will champion that in the Congress, even while we look for even greater protections for the unborn in states across the country.”
Yet, Pence has also voiced support for exceptions in the case of incest, rape, and when the mother’s life is at risk.
He confirmed, “I’m pro-life, but I have always recognized and accepted abortions in tragic circumstances, rape, incest, the life of the mother.”
Pence’s position starkly contrasts with that of Trump, who refrained from expressing direct support for a 15-week nationwide abortion ban.
Trump, in his signature style, remarked in May, “We’re going to look at it. We’re looking at a lot of different options. We got it back to the States. We did the Roe v. Wade thing, which they’ve been trying to get it done for 50 years. I got it done. I appointed incredible justices and judges all over, 300 federal judges and three justices, and I was able to do things that nobody else was able to and we’ll get something done where everyone is going to be very satisfied. I believe that.”
Despite his contentious stand, Pence remains determined to advocate for pro-life policies.
As he says, he plans to “continue to be a champion for advancing the sanctity of life in every state in this country.”
While his proposed 15-week limit may seem like a significant move, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests it would only impact a small fraction of abortions.
Approximately 93% of U.S. abortions occur during the first trimester, meaning this law would primarily affect late-term procedures.
