Vance says Republicans need to “do a much better job” of “winning back trust” on abortion

In Tuesday night's vice presidential debate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio acknowledged that Republicans need to do a better job of talking to women about the issue of abortion.

Vance recalled growing up in a working-class family where he “knew a lot of young women who decided to terminate these pregnancies.” He specifically called a friend who he said had terminated a pregnancy resulting from an abusive relationship and reported how difficult it was for her.

“I think as a Republican who takes pride in protecting innocent lives in this country, who takes pride in protecting the vulnerable, I conclude that my party needs to do a much better job of making money.” “The trust of the American people on this issue has returned, although frankly they just don't trust us,” Vance said. “That’s one of the things that Donald Trump and I are striving for. I want us as the Republican Party to be family-friendly in the truest sense of the word. I want to support fertility treatments.”

It was a departure from Trump's comments in which he had repeatedly sought to overturn the Supreme Court's decision, Roe v. Repealing Wade was portrayed as something the public overwhelmingly wanted. Vance's comments came as he faced off against Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in a drawn-out battle over abortion that at times saw each man accuse the other of taking extreme positions.

Vance went on to say that he and Trump agreed that abortion policies should vary from state to state to represent a “diverse” country.

“California has a different point of view on this than Georgia. Georgia has a different point of view than Arizona. And the right way to deal with this, as messy as democracy can be at times, is to let voters make those decisions and let individual states determine their abortion policies,” he said.

He also accused Democrats of taking “a very radical, pro-abortion stance” and said Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, would force medical providers who oppose abortions to perform abortions.

During the debate, Trump said on social media that he would veto a federal abortion ban if it reached his desk as president – an issue he has been dancing around with in recent weeks.

In the spin room after the debate, Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., told NBC News that he agreed with Vance's criticism of her party on abortion.

“I think it was right and I think it was a good answer,” he said. “Listen, abortion is a very personal matter, a very personal, very private matter for women across the country.” Our country is no longer a black and white pro-choice, pro-life country. It’s just not like that, not after Roe v. Wade.”

Walz accused Trump and Vance of advocating extreme principles and warned that they would introduce some kind of pregnancy registry – which Vance denied – and create barriers to receiving contraceptives and fertility treatments.

“This topic concerns everyone. Donald Trump made all of this happen. He brags about how great it was that he installed the justices and overturned Roe v. Wade,” Walz said.

Walz then scoffed at the idea that a federal solution would somehow be accommodating to women. He cited a case in Texas where a woman suffered a serious complication at 18 weeks but was not allowed an abortion.

“At that point, the doctor has to make a decision about medical care, and that would have been an abortion, but in Texas that would have put her in legal jeopardy,” Walz said. “She went home, developed sepsis, almost died, and now she may have trouble having children.”

Walz supported Harris' promise to restore protections under Roe v. Wade, repeating a phrase he often uses: “Just mind your own business on this one.”