Trump VP contender Kristi Noem says abortion ban should have no exceptions for rape or incest

During a Sunday morning appearance on CNN, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was asked whether she thinks there should be exceptions for survivors of rape and incest when it came to abortion laws.

Apparently, she does not.

Ms Noem’s interview with Dana Bash on State of the Union covered a wide range of topics given that the governor is seen as a leading contender to be Donald Trump’s running mate.

On abortion, she spoke in favour of the issue being decided by individual states post-Roe v Wade, referencing a decades-old trigger law that came into effect in her state after the Supreme Court struck down the 1973 decision.

Abortion is now banned in South Dakota, with the only exception being to save the life of the mother.

When asked by Bash if she believed there should be exceptions for rape and incest, Ms Noem replied: “We rely in South Dakota on the fact that I am pro-life and we have a law that says there is an exception for the life of the mother, and I just don’t believe that a tragedy should perpetuate another tragedy.”

The governor insisted that the current law in South Dakota was what the people of her state want.

There was a swift reaction to the clip online with podcast host Fred Wellman writing on X: “Rape isn’t a ‘tragedy’. It’s a violent crime and forcing the victim to carry the child of her rapist is one of the most shameful and vicious acts of government imaginable.”

“Absolutely monstrous people with their fake piety,” he added.

Former Obama White House staffer Tommy Vietor wrote: “Kristi Noem is considered a leading contender to be Trump VP pick. Here she says that women who are victims of rape or incest should be denied access to abortion services.”

National security attorney Bradley Moss noted: “The