Tim Walz deftly addressed Fox News' Shannon Bream's comments on abortion rights during his appearance Sunday, calling her attempts to steer the conversation toward whether there would be limits on what time the procedure would be allowed a ” distraction'.
In what was his first solo interview since becoming the Democratic vice presidential nominee, Walz keeps his cool and dodges tough questions.
“I have been clear. The restoration of Roe versus Wade is what we are asking for,” Walz said when Bream asked him along Fox News Sunday whether Democrats would allow abortion during all nine months of pregnancy.
“The law is very clear. That doesn't change. That was debunked at every opportunity.”
However, Bream intervened, claiming that when he enshrined the right to abortion and reproductive health care in Minnesota statutes last year, the legislation did not include “any limit on the duration of the nine months of pregnancy.”
However, Walz remained calm on his message and continued: “This puts the decision on the woman with her health care providers.”
“The situation we have is when the healthcare providers are not able to provide that. Then you end up in a situation in Texas where they are afraid to do what is necessary,” he said.
“This doesn't change anything. It puts the decision back on the woman, on the doctors, and we know this just needs to be brought up,” he added.
When the governor pushed Minnesota's abortion laws further, he pushed back.
“This distracts from the real problem: women are forced to have miscarriages, women are forced to go back home, get blood poisoning and possibly die.”
“Maternal mortality in Texas has skyrocketed as a result. This is bad policy.”
Walz also reiterated his claim that Trump would go further by signing an “outright nationwide ban.” Questions have been raised about the extent to which Trump could implement the policies outlined in Project 2025, but the Republican presidential candidate has stated he would veto such a ban.
“You call that an outright lie?” Bream asked Walz.
“Yes, of course. And Senator Vance has said that in the past,” Walz responded.
He also accused Vance and Trump of making the issue political.
“Look, they might see this as an election problem. We see it as a women's right to make their own bodily decisions. That is what the states, like my state, have the ability to implement.”
“Let's be very clear: Trying to pick hairs on an issue in this area is not what the American public is focused on.”
Read more at The Daily Beast.
Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered straight to your inbox. Register now.
Stay informed and get unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unparalleled reporting. Subscribe now.
