In a recent op-ed piece, former Vice President Mike Pence decided to take a shot at former President Donald Trump, saying that he has betrayed the Republican party by taking his stance on abortion.
“Like so many other advocates for life, I was deeply disappointed when Mr. Trump stated that he considered abortion to be a state-only issue and would not sign a bill prohibiting late-term abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, even if it came to his desk,” Pence wrote in the piece published in The New York Times on Saturday.
Pence was referring to Trump’s comments from earlier this month when he shared his stance on a national abortion ban, which Trump said he would not support if he were to return to office.
While appearing in Georgia, Trump answered “no” to a reporter who asked if he would sign a national abortion ban that was passed by Congress.
Pence called these comments a “retreat from the pro-life cause” and “disheartening.” He previously said Trump’s position was a “slap in the face” to those who support him.
During their time in office, Pence said that his former boss was “committed” to the pro-life movement, but now he appears to be “retreating” from that position.
“He is leading other Republicans astray,” Pence wrote in the op-ed.
Pence then pointed to one of Trump’s top allies, Kari Lake, an outspoken Republican Senate candidate in Arizona who said she would not support a federal ban on late-term abortion.
“One recent example is an Arizona Republican running for the U.S. Senate, who followed Trump’s lead and pledged to oppose a federal ban on late-term abortions,” Pence said. “When our leaders aren’t firmly committed to life, others will waver too. Courage inspires imitation. So does weakness.”
As for the vice president’s stance, he said that a 15-week ban should be the “minimum national standard.”