Former Vice President Mike Pence has come out of obscurity to attack Trump's nascent administration by openly challenged the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services according to The Hill.
The recent nomination by President-elect Donald Trump of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services has sparked a fervent reaction from former Vice President Mike Pence.
Pence, a stalwart pro-life advocate, has voiced his discontent with Kennedy's appointment due to his varied positions on abortion rights.
Kennedy, who originally campaigned for president as a Democrat, had supported among other policies, a ban on abortions after the first trimester.
This position later shifted to oppose banning abortions before fetal viability, which is generally accepted to be around 24 weeks. Such inconsistencies have fueled Pence's opposition.
On Kennedy's campaign website, he expressed support for the principles of Roe v. Wade, suggesting potential legislative action to restore abortion rights if deemed necessary.
This stance starkly contrasts with the previous administration's policies, which were heavily pro-life. Pence, emphasizing this point, stated that Kennedy's nomination represents a significant departure from the administration's former staunch pro-life agenda.
Trump's views on abortion have appeared to evolve, now stating that abortion legislation should be a state matter rather than federal—a position Pence has criticized as a "slap in the face" to pro-life advocates. This pivot plays a central role in the contention surrounding Kennedy's nomination.
Pence's plea to the Senate underscores a broader concern within the GOP and among pro-life groups regarding Kennedy's suitability for such a pivotal role at HHS.
According to Pence, hundreds of decisions at HHS daily influence national direction toward or away from pro-life values, and he believes Kennedy's leadership would steer away from respecting life.
The Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 for Trump’s second term emphasizes reintroducing a "department of life" promoting Christian-centric governance, which further complicates Kennedy's potential leadership due to his conflicting views.
Responses from significant anti-abortion groups like Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Students for Life have been mixed.
These groups have expressed their doubts about Kennedy yet have not fully rejected his nomination. Marjorie Dannenfelser and Kristan Hawkins both voiced their concerns but indicated a willingness to influence and work with Kennedy on pro-life issues.
Dannenfelser, representative of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, conveyed the necessity of a pro-life secretary at HHS and her hope that foundational pro-life policies from Trump's first term would be reinstated.
Hawkins, speaking for Students for Life, acknowledged Kennedy's past actions in holding healthcare bureaucrats accountable, highlighting the politicized nature of HHS. She emphasized her intent to discuss with Kennedy how the department could better include pro-life perspectives, including those of pro-life hospitals.
Pence continues to champion pro-life values strongly. He urged Senate Republicans to appoint a leader at HHS who values the sanctity of life, representing the tens of millions of Americans who subscribe to these views.
His statements align with his longtime stance on abortion, maintaining that the department should not deviate from its previous commitments under the Trump-Pence administration of respecting life.
As the Senate considers Kennedy's nomination, the GOP's internal dynamics and broader pro-life community's influence could play critical roles.
Pence’s call for rejection establishes a contentious backdrop for the forthcoming confirmation processes, emphasizing the enduring and polarized debate over abortion rights within American politics.