Noem backs no rape and incest abortion exceptions: ‘A tragedy should not perpetuate another tragedy’

During an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on Sunday, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) said she opposes rape and incest exceptions for abortion laws is because “a tragedy should not perpetuate another tragedy.”

Bash cited former President Donald Trump’s critical words on the Arizona Supreme Court’s recent abortion decision, which upheld a near total abortion ban from conception with no exceptions. Bash pointed out that a similar law is being enforced in South Dakota, where the only exceptions are to save the life of the mother. When asked where she stands on expectations for rape and incest, Noem said that an exception for the life of the mother are enough.

“And I think that every state’s going to look different. I have constantly looked at, we rely in South Dakota on the fact that I am pro-life and we have a law that says that there is an exception for the life of the mother. And I just don’t believe that a tragedy should perpetuate another tragedy,” Noem said.

Bash: You think there should be exceptions for rape and incest?

Noem: I don’t think a tragedy should perpetuate another tragedy pic.twitter.com/tgrUOCIIKI

— Acyn (@Acyn) April 21, 2024

Despite opposing abortion exceptions in the case of highly traumatic events, Noem reiterated that she believes in taking care of mothers in “crisis situations.”

“I believe in taking care of mothers that are in a crisis situation and that we should be walking alongside them giving them all the information and the best information they could make before they have to be put in a situation where an abortion is the only option that they have,” Noem said.

Noem is on Trump’s short list of potential vice presidential candidates for the 2024 election. Despite saying that the Arizona abortion measure went “too far,” Trump has repeatedly bragged about overturning Roe v. Wade.