ABC's Jon Karl grills JD Vance on Trump’s false claims about Tim Walz 'letting the state kidnap children'

BOZEMAN, MONTANA: Senator JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential nominee, found himself on the defensive as ABC’s anchor Jon Karl grilled him over explosive claims made by Donald Trump at a rally in Montana on Friday, August 9.

The former president had accused Democratic presidential frontrunner Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, Governor Tim Walz (D-MN), of signing a letter that allegedly permitted the state to kidnap children for gender reassignment without parental consent - an assertion Karl quickly labeled as "not remotely true."

JD Vance stands firm on Trump’s false claims against Walz

Jon Karl confronted JD Vance, demanding clarity on the unfounded accusations, “Trump said that Tim Walz has signed a letter letting the state kidnap children to change their gender. Allowing pedophiles to be exempt from crimes. I mean, this is not true. It’s not remotely true!” on ABC’s 'This Week'.

Vance, however, stood by Trump’s rhetoric, asserting, “What President Trump said, Jon, is that Tim Walz has supported taking children from their parents if the parents don’t consent to gender reassignment. That is crazy.”

"And by the way, Tim Walz gets on his high horse about mind your own damn business. One way of minding your own damn business, Jon, is to not try to take my children away from me if I have different moral views than you."

“He has not signed a law allowing the state to kidnapping children to change their sexual identity,” Karl claimed. “What I just explained to you, I would describe as kidnapping,” Vance responded.

“That’s crazy, come on!” Karl added.

“He has absolutely done this stuff,” the Republican vice presidential nominee doubled down. “You should not you should not be able to take people’s children away from them if you disagree with decisions about gender reassignment.”

“That’s not what he’s proposed!” Karl stated.

Despite the fact check, Vance maintained his stance, emphasizing the alleged overreach into parental rights.

Walz's bill turns Minnesota into a sanctuary state for child gender-affirming care

The executive order, known as the Trans Refuge Bill by its supporters, was signed by Governor Tim Walz in early 2023. This law allows Minnesota courts to intervene in custody disputes across state lines when a child is unable to obtain gender-affirming care, such as puberty blockers, reconstructive genital surgery, and hormone therapy.

While it does not strip parents of custody for opposing such care, it grants legal protection to children who travel to Minnesota for these procedures and to the medical practitioners who provide them.

Additionally, the law prohibits Minnesota courts and officials from honoring requests for child removal, extraditions, arrests, or subpoenas concerning a child’s gender-transition procedures obtained in Minnesota, even if such actions are considered criminal in another state, per NR.

Furthermore, the law considers seeking gender-transition procedures for minors as a factor in determining whether a Minnesota court has jurisdiction in child custody cases.

It also provides courts with temporary emergency jurisdiction if a child arrives in Minnesota from a state that has denied them these procedures. Republican lawmakers who criticized the bill contended that it undermines parental rights and could push children towards potentially dangerous, experimental, and life-altering gender treatments.