According to a new report from NBC News, President Trump’s top concern when it comes to choosing a VP candidate is abortion.
Allegedly, sources close to Trump say he has been asking about potential running mate’s stances on abortion – and he won’t pick someone deemed too hardline, meaning anyone who supports a 6-week ban on abortion or stricter.
Specifically, the report notes Trump is concerned about two short-listed candidates:
1. Sen. Tim Scott, who has publicly supported a 6-week abortion ban.
2. Gov. Kristi Noem, a self-described “absolutist” on the abortion issue who signed one the strictest bans in the nation, with the only exception being to save the mother’s life.
Take a look at the latest report on Trump’s potential VP choice:
.@DashaBurns reports that Trump views abortion as a “top concern” when considering VP picks
Excellent news. Tim Scott should be ruled out immediately pic.twitter.com/yyS7DbFp51
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) March 13, 2024
Former President Trump has been laser-focused on the abortion views of his potential running mates, viewing the issue as a potential vulnerability for Republicans. https://t.co/GtNwKWOeyD
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 13, 2024
Now, keep in mind none of this is straight from President Trump’s mouth.
So, take it for what it’s worth.
NBC News was the first to report on Trump’s alleged main concern when it comes to choosing a 2024 running mate:
Last month at Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump was dining on the outdoor patio, engaging in his regular habit of stopping by the tables of club members and talking about whatever issue was top of mind.
On this day, the GOP’s challenges on the issue of abortion became the focus when a member brought up the midterm elections and the hit Republicans took over reproductive rights. According to a source who was present, the member told Trump to pick a running mate who isn’t too hard-line on the issue. Trump then began making the rounds polling his dinner guests about abortion and the veepstakes.
In particular, he asked the diners — who included his campaign aides and club members — what they thought of the vocal anti-abortion-rights views of Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina. Would they turn off voters?
According to two sources close to Trump, including the person at the dinner, Trump has been laser-focused on the abortion issue, especially when it comes to his vice presidential pick. He sees it as the one major advantage for Democrats and a vulnerability for Republicans.
“The president understands it as a treacherous issue — one that you can actually trip up and fall on your face with,” said the source, a person familiar with his thinking. The person added that Trump would most likely not risk picking “someone with a six-week ban in their discussions or someone without any commitment on the exceptions.”
In addition to Scott, the second source said, Trump has been asking about where other potential vice presidential contenders stand on abortion, specifically naming Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.
“He’s concerned it will have a drag on the ticket if they’re seen as holding too staunch a position,” the person said.
The two sources said it has been a point of discussion among advisers and donors, as well, with people waving some red and yellow flags for certain shortlisters.
The candidates most frequently mentioned with some concern are Scott and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.
Noem’s team confirmed to NBC News that she met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago on Feb. 26, but it declined to disclose any details about the conversation. Her state was among those with trigger bans that took effect after the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade. Abortion is now completely banned there, with an exception only to save the life of the woman.
The Washington Examiner also commented:
Former President Donald Trump is considering a vice presidential candidate who doesn’t take hard-line stances on abortion.
Speculation about Trump’s choice for running mate is intensifying after the former president secured enough delegates to grab the Republican presidential nomination, paving the way for a potential rematch against President Joe Biden. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley ended her presidential GOP bid following losses on Super Tuesday.
Last month at Mar-a-Lago, Trump mingled with members while having dinner on the outdoor patio, inquiring about abortion and potential vice presidential contenders, a source who was present at the dinner told NBC News. According to the source, Trump specifically asked the crowd, which included campaign aides and club members, about Sen. Tim Scott’s (R-SC) stance on abortion.
Scott, who has been floated as a potential running mate for Trump after dropping his own 2024 GOP bid for president in November, supports a federal 15-week national limit on abortion. He has praised Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) abortion ban at six weeks in pregnancy. Scott previously said he’d support exceptions to abortion in cases of rape or incest and if the life of the pregnant person was at risk.
Trump is prioritizing abortion, as he sees the issue as a strategy for Democrats and a weakness for Republicans, aiming to choose a running mate with a more moderate stance on the topic.
President Trump has not yet stated his specific stance on abortion directly.
But, according to The New York Times, he has privately expressed support for a nationwide 16-week ban:
Former President Donald J. Trump has told advisers and allies that he likes the idea of a 16-week national abortion ban with three exceptions, in cases of rape or incest, or to save the life of the mother, according to two people with direct knowledge of Mr. Trump’s deliberations.
Mr. Trump has studiously avoided taking a clear position on restrictions to abortion since Roe v. Wade was overturned in the middle of 2022, galvanizing Democrats ahead of the midterm elections that year. He has said in private that he wants to wait until the Republican presidential primary contest is over to publicly discuss his views, because he doesn’t want to risk alienating social conservatives before he has secured the nomination, the two people said.
Mr. Trump has approached abortion transactionally since becoming a candidate in 2015, and his current private discussions reflect that same approach.
One thing Mr. Trump likes about a 16-week federal ban on abortions is that it’s a round number. “Know what I like about 16?” Mr. Trump told one of these people, who was given anonymity to describe a private conversation. “It’s even. It’s four months.”
When discussing prospective vice-presidential candidates, Mr. Trump often asks whether they are “OK on abortion.” He is instantly dismissive when he hears that a Republican doesn’t support “the three exceptions.” He tells advisers that Republicans will keep losing elections with that position.
Following this latest talk surrounding Trump’s VP choice, many social media users threw out Ben Carson’s name as an ideal pick.
Ben Carson and abortion.
(Trump VP talk) https://t.co/ONgDsDxpUS
— Paul Villarreal (AKA Vince Manfeld) (@AureliusStoic1) March 13, 2024
When it comes to being Trump’s VP, an advantage that Ben Carson has on the issue of abortion is that he hasn’t been put in a position to cast specific votes or sign specific legislation.
It’s easier for him to simply conform to Trump’s position on abortion.
— The Reckoning 💥 (@sethjlevy) March 15, 2024
What do you think?
Do you believe the details of this report?
Would Ben Carson make a good VP choice?
If not, who would?
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