JD Vance hints at rising tension with Trump, says 'I've learned my lesson' on speaking for ex-POTUS

WASHINGTON, DC: JD Vance appeared to indicate a change in his approach when it comes to speaking on behalf of former President Donald Trump, particularly concerning the contentious issue of a federal abortion ban.

During an interview with NBC News 'Meet the Press' host Kristen Welker on Sunday, September 15, the Ohio senator acknowledged, "I think that I've learned my lesson on speaking for the president before he and I have actually talked about an issue," as per Daily Mail.

Donald Trump's ambiguity on national abortion ban during ABC News debate

This admission marks a significant departure from JD Vance's previous stance, where he confidently asserted Donald Trump's opposition to a national abortion ban.

Last month, the GOP VP pick was clear in his belief that the former president would not support a federal ban on abortion, emphasizing that the issue was unlikely to reach the Oval Office due to the challenges it would face in Congress. 

However, during the September 10 ABC News debate, when asked about vetoing a bill that would impose such a ban, Trump's response was notably noncommittal. He simply stated, "I won't have to," implying that the situation wouldn't arise.

This ambiguity contrasted sharply with Vance's earlier comments, leading to a rare public moment of discord between the two.

When pressed during the debate about his running mate's remarks, Trump distanced himself, saying, "I didn’t discuss it with JD, in all fairness. And I don’t mind if he has a certain view, but I don’t think he was speaking for me."

JD Vance remains firm that a national abortion ban is 'not on the table'

JD Vance's recent comments have added fuel to the already heated discussion surrounding the Republican ticket's stance on abortion.

While he maintains that a national abortion ban is "not on the table," the discrepancy between his and Trump's messaging has provided ammunition for their political opponents.

Democratic nominee Kamala Harris' campaign quickly seized upon the confusion. Sarafina Chitik, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, labeled Trump and Vance's ticket as "the most extreme, anti-choice ticket in history."

She went further to say, "Today's admission from Vance is the latest proof of what voters already know: Trump and Vance will implement their Project 2025 playbook to ban abortion nationwide the minute they get the chance."

These developments have put Vance in a position where he has had to clarify his statements while maintaining party unity. He insists that Trump has been "incredibly clear" in his belief that abortion policy should be determined by individual states rather than at the national level.

During Sunday's interview, the Ohio senator elaborated, "He wants abortion policy to be made by the states. Because he thinks, look, Alabama is going to make a different decision from California and that's OK. We're a big country, we can disagree."

However, during an August interview with Welker, Vance had been more assertive in suggesting that Trump would veto any national abortion regulation, saying, "I think he's been clear, he wouldn't support it. I mean he said that explicitly."