Rubio predicts Trump 'won't get to sign' federal abortion ban
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Sunday predicted former President Trump will not have the opportunity to sign a national abortion ban even if he is reelected and wanted to, arguing the issue will never receive enough support in Congress.
When asked on NBC News's "Meet the Press" if he disagrees with Trump's remark that he is "not signing a national abortion ban," Rubio said, "Well, he won't sign one because there's no way we can pass it."
"I've never claimed we have 60 votes in the Senate and votes in the House and everything else that goes in between," he added.
Trump last month said he would not sign a national abortion ban if reelected and such a bill passed Congress and emphasized abortion policy should be determined by individual states.
“Now the states have it, and the states are putting out what they want. It’s the will of the people,” Trump said while speaking to reporters in April.
Rubio suggested Trump has signaled he "wants to negotiate" with Democrats on the issue.
"And I think what Trump has actually said is that what he wants to do is negotiate, I think he said it on this program, that he wants to negotiate with the Democrats on this, which I think, you know, in a country where you're trying to save unborn human life, and I support laws that do so even if they don't want everything I want them to have in there," Rubio said.
"That's his goal. But that's a statement of fact: He will never get a chance to sign that law because right now we don't have the votes to pass. That doesn't mean that's not what I believe, it's just kind of the reality of the politics," he added.
"Meet the Press" anchor Kristen Welker later pressed Rubio, whose name has been floated as a possible vice-presidential pick for Trump, on the former president's recent remark calling the six-week abortion ban in Florida a "terrible thing, a terrible mistake."
Rubio appeared to sidestep Welker's question over whether Trump was "wrong on that point."
"Well, again, I am pro-life, so I support laws that save unborn human life. Other people have different opinions on what our law should be," Rubio said. "That law that you're referring to was passed by elected legislators in the state of Florida, House members that have to go back to their voters every two years, senators that have go to back every four years."
"I get that this is two competing rights here that [are] crashing into each other," he continued. "But I err on the side of supporting unborn human life because of the dignity of all human life. That's my view. I want our laws to represent it. Other people have different views."
Welker then pressed again, asking Rubio if he is "disagreeing" with Trump's opposition to Florida's six-week ban and if he supports it instead.
"But I think, even within the pro-ife movement, there's all kinds of disagreement about what the law should be. Some of it is practical," Rubio answered, prompting Welker to ask again if he supports the ban.
"I support any bill that protects unborn human life, but I don't consider other people in the pro-life movement who have a different view to be apostate," Rubio responded.
The Biden campaign last month quickly dismissed Trump's remarks about not signing an abortion ban, pointing to his track record on the issue to argue the former president would threaten access to the procedure if he is reelected.
“Donald Trump is a lying liar,” Biden campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa wrote on the social platform X. “He endorsed a national abortion ban when he was president in 2018. His allies are talking about how they can ban abortion with or without Congress. Give me a break.”
As president, Trump’s White House supported a House bill that banned most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and pushed the Senate to pass the legislation and send it to his desk. The measure did not make it through the Senate, however.
While a federal abortion ban is likely to face many challenges in Congress, abortion advocates have warned a second Trump term, regardless of congressional action, could threaten access to abortion medication.
Date: | |
Tag: | Donald Trump |
Filter
-
Judge dismisses lawsuit challenging federal rules to accommodate abortions for workers
A lawsuit filed by 17 states challenging federal rules entitling workers to time off and other accommodations for abortions lacks standing, a federal judge in Arkansas ruled on Friday.NBC News - Top stories -
Rubio says Trump remark on immigrants "poisoning the blood" of U.S. not about race
In a TV interview, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a potential Trump running mate, defended Trump's comment that immigrants were "poisoning the blood of our country."CBS News - Top stories - Donald Trump -
Trump meets with Rubio, Schmitt for policy session ahead of debate
Former President Trump met Thursday with Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) to run through policy and other topics that might come up at the first presidential debate later this month, multiple sources confirmed to The Hill. Trump ...The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump -
Trump celebrates 78th birthday as Rubio makes surprise appearance
It was Sen. Marco Rubio's first time appearing on the 2024 campaign trail alongside former President Donald Trump.CBS News - Politics - Donald Trump -
Biden says he won't commute his son's sentence in his federal gun case
President Joe Biden made clear Thursday that in addition to not pardoning his son Hunter following his conviction on three gun-related charges this week, he won't commute his sentence either.NBC News - Politics - Joe Biden -
Biden says he won't commute any sentence Hunter gets
President Biden already said he will not pardon his son, Hunter, which he reiterated during a joint news conference in Italy on Thursday.CBS News - Politics - Joe Biden -
What Trump told the House GOP about abortion
Politico - Politics - Abortion -
Supreme Court invalidates Trump-era ban on bump stocks
The Supreme Court on Friday invalidated a Trump-era ban on bump stocks.ABC News - Top stories - Donald Trump -
Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era ban on bump stocks for firearms
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives exceeded its authority when it issued the rule outlawing bump stocks.CBS News - Top stories - Donald Trump -
Supreme Court Rejects Trump-Era Ban on Gun Bump Stocks
The devices allow semiautomatic guns to fire more rapidly. They were banned after one of the deadliest mass shootings in modern U.S. history, at a Las Vegas concert in 2017.The New York Times - Top stories - Donald Trump
More from The Hill
-
Harris vows to protect DACA: 'The story of Dreamers is a story of America'
Vice President Harris lauded the Biden administration's moves to protect recipients under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program Saturday, the 12th anniversary of the Obama-era policy. "The story of Dreamers is a story of America. ...The Hill - Politics -
How small solutions can solve big electric grid problems
We can use precision tools to shape the system more precisely and keep costs down while keeping the lights on.The Hill - Politics -
George Conway predicts Trump will ‘lose big’ in Supreme Court immunity case
Conservative attorney George Conway said Friday that he thinks former President Trump will “lose big” in his presidential immunity case that is before the Supreme Court. Conway joined CNN’s Jim Acosta to talk about the highly anticipated decision ...The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump -
Biden campaign hits Trump with bilingual video on DACA anniversary
President Biden's reelection campaign unveiled a bilingual video Saturday, attacking former President Trump for his aversion to the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy — a 2012 program that protects immigrants who came ...The Hill - Politics - Joe Biden -
Farah Griffin: Trump talked about executing people at several White House meetings
Former White House communications director Alyssa Farah Griffin said former President Trump talked about executing people multiple times at White House meetings. Farah Griffin joined Mediaite’s Aidan McLaughlin to discuss her time in the Trump ...The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump