Trump lashes out at former VP Pence who criticized his lukewarm abortion statement

Former President Trump criticized former Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday morning due to their disagreement on the importance of a federal abortion ban.

Republican presidential candidate former President Trump speaks during an awards ceremony held at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

"He started at no abortion for any reason, and then allowing abortions for up to 6 weeks, then up to 15 weeks, and then, who knows?" the former president asserted.

The comment appears to be a reference to various pro-life bills proposed or backed by Pence that sought to restrict abortion at the state or national level.

The former vice president has been a consistent pro-life advocate since his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000. He has maintained for his entire political career that the termination of an embryo is morally unacceptable at any stage.

The criticism also seems to use recycled language from a previous post attacking Sen. Lindsey Graham, whom he said "wanted no Abortions under any circumstances, then he was up to 6 weeks, where you’re allowed Abortion, now he’s up to 15 weeks."

TRUMP SAYS ABORTION SHOULD BE DECIDED BY THE STATES, 'WILL OF THE PEOPLE'

Former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

Pence charged on Monday that Trump's decision not to support a federal ban on abortion is a "retreat on the Right to Life" and "a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life Americans."

The former vice president's statement came a few hours after Trump took credit for the decision two years ago by the conservative majority on the Supreme Court that overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, which had legalized abortion nationwide.

However, Trump declined to support the push by social conservatives to ban abortion at the federal level and emphasized his support for states determining their own laws for abortion so long as there are exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother.

In a statement on social media, Pence argued, "President Trump’s retreat on the Right to Life is a slap in the face to the millions of pro-life Americans who voted for him in 2016 and 2020. By nominating and standing by the confirmation of conservative justices, the Trump-Pence Administration helped send Roe v. Wade to the ash heap of history where it belongs and gave the pro-life movement the opportunity to compassionately support women and unborn children."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Republican presidential candidate former Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the Clinton County GOP Hog Roast in Clinton, Iowa. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

The former vice president lamented that "too many Republican politicians are all too ready to wash their hands of the battle for life."

Fox News Digital's Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

Timothy Nerozzi is a writer for Fox News Digital. You can follow him on Twitter @timothynerozzi and can email him at timothy.nerozzi@fox.com

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.

Subscribed

You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-lashes-former-vp-pence-criticized-lukewarm-abortion-statement