South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, who could be chosen as Vice President by former President Trump, stated on Sunday that she does not support making exceptions for cases of rape and incest in laws that regulate abortion, and she defended the law of her own state.
Noem stated in an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash that people in South Dakota desire the existing law, which does permit an exception for abortion to save the mother's life.
When pressed by Bash about her beliefs, Noem declared that she is “pro-life” and does not endorse exceptions for rape or incest.
Noem said, “I just don’t believe a tragedy should lead to another tragedy. I believe in supporting mothers in crisis and walking alongside them, providing them with all the information they need before they are forced to consider abortion as their only option.”
South Dakota's abortion ban is one of the strictest in the nation and was enacted as a trigger ban shortly after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, which had guaranteed abortion rights across the country.
Noem is being considered by Trump as a potential running mate in his presidential campaign this year, along with several other top Republican officials. She has expressed that she would readily accept the offer to be his running mate.
Trump mentioned Noem and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) as possible candidates when questioned in February about his considerations.
Noem’s remarks follow the Arizona Supreme Court's recent ruling to reinstate a law from the 19th century that nearly completely prohibits abortion without exceptions for rape and incest.
Trump, who believes that abortion should be decided by individual states, criticized the law as going “too far” and called on Arizona lawmakers to “address” it.
Noem told Bash that she agrees that abortion is a matter for the states..
