Schiff says Trump ‘flip-flopping’ on abortion: ‘He has no values’
Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Sunday criticized former President Trump for “flip-flopping” on the issue of abortion, after the GOP presidential candidate similarly attacked his opponent, Vice President Harris, for changing her position on fracking.
“Let's compare a situation where someone changed their position four years ago,” Schiff said on CNN’s “State of the Union,” referring to Harris, “to Donald Trump, who's changed his position four times on abortion in the last 48 hours.”
“That, to me, is a much more significant question, particularly as, when you're talking about abortion, and you're talking about a right and freedom of the American people, to be so pandering, wishy-washy, flip-flopping, you know, so disrespectful of the rights and freedoms of millions of American women and do all that in a single day,” Schiff continued.
“That's the contrast here. And what's more, Dana, that's a values issue,” he added, addressing anchor Dana Bash. “That's a values issue, when on something like the right to an abortion, you flip-flop every 15 minutes, that shows essentially, he has no values.”
Trump has come under scrutiny in recent days for appearing to change his position on a Florida abortion ballot measure, which would guarantee the right to abortion “before viability,” about 24 weeks into a pregnancy.
Trump signaled he opposed the measure in a Thursday interview with NBC News, saying, "I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks."
His campaign, however, seemed to walk back those remarks, saying Trump was not actually stating how he would vote on the measure but "simply reiterated that he believes six weeks is too short."
A day later, however, Trump went on Fox News and said he would vote in favor of the ballot initiative, apparently after facing conservative backlash to the earlier interview.
But Harris's policy evolution has also made headlines in recent days, particularly after CNN's Dana Bash pressed her on the change in her position on a fracking ban in her first sit-down interview of her campaign on Thursday.
Schiff, who is running for Senate in California, defended the former California senator against criticism about her evolving position on a fracking ban, saying Harris's values have been consistent, echoing her explanation from the Thursday night interview.
"I favor banning fracking, and I strongly believe that the pathway to attacking climate change is to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels," Schiff said when asked whether he's disappointed that Harris now opposes a ban on fracking.
“But look, I'm not the vice president of the United States, and I do think that when you are representing the whole country, you have a different perspective,” he continued. “As the vice president pointed out, her values, though, have remained consistent.”
Harris pledged not to ban fracking if elected president, but he said in her Thursday interview that her "values have not changed." She pointed to her role in passing the Inflation Reduction Act, which she said has contributed to a boom in renewable energy jobs.
"That tells me, from my experience as vice president, we can do it without banning fracking,” Harris said in the interview. “What I have seen is that we can grow and we can increase a thriving clean energy economy without banning fracking.”
Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung shot back against Schiff’s remarks in his interview, attacking Schiff’s character and using a nickname coined by the former president.
“Shifty Schiff has no right to talk about morals, considering he's one of the most despicable and disgusting elected officials in Congress. He knows Comrade Kamala is the flip flopper because she's the one who has actually lied about her positions from fracking to the border and to the Afghanistan debacle," Cheung said, without evidence, in a statement.
"This is just more disgusting gaslighting from a disgusting person who has no decency and lacks the character to actually be president," he continued. "Shame!”
Trump for years has taken aim at Schiff, who was the lead prosecutor in Trump’s first impeachment trial and who also served on the Jan. 6 select committee.
Date: | |
Tag: | Donald Trump |
Topics
-
NBC News - Top stories
RFK Jr. says he is being investigated for collecting whale specimen
Former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Saturday he is being investigated for collecting a whale specimen.6 hours ago -
The Guardian - World
Trump’s fantasy that migrants are eating cats proves the meme has prevailed over real politics | Kenan Malik
Signs and symbols are increasingly being wielded by politicians around the world in place of reasoned debate about serious issues . If one town could be emblematic of the vicissitudes of ...3 hours ago -
The Hill - Politics
Vance says North Carolina crucial for a Trump victory
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) said it would be 'very hard' for former President Trump and himself to win the general election this fall without a victory in North Carolina. “If you just look at the ...7 hours ago - Donald Trump -
BBC News - Top stories
The anti-abortion activist urging followers to abandon Trump
Lila Rose says his more moderate stance has made it "impossible" to support him. Could it impact who wins the election?9 hours ago - Donald Trump -
The Guardian - World
If Starmer is on a US charm offensive, he must meet Trump as well as Harris | Kim Darroch
The former president remains the likelier winner of the election, and the UK needs a working relationship with whoever is in the White House. In April 1966, according to legend, a chance encounter ...5 hours ago - Donald Trump -
The Wall Street Journal - World
The Top U.S. Colleges Offering the Best Value for 2025
These colleges put students on lucrative career paths and keep costs comparatively low, according to the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse rankings9 hours ago -
NBC News - Top stories
JD Vance says it would be 'very hard' for Trump to win without North Carolina
GREENVILLE, N.C. — Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, said on Saturday that it would be “very hard” for the Trump campaign to win in November if it does not hold on to North Carolina, a state former President ...10 hours ago - Donald Trump -
The Guardian - World
Trump ‘likelier winner’ unless Harris tackles two failings, says ex-ambassador
Kim Darroch says the Democratic nominee must focus on US swing states and avoid repeating Hillary Clinton’s errors. Donald Trump will remain the “likelier winner” of the US presidential election on ...5 hours ago - Donald Trump -
BBC News - Top stories
I met Harry as he turned 30. A tumultuous decade later, here's how he's changed
Out of the spotlight in California, more charity and media work is likely - but will he mend family bonds?9 hours ago -
ABC News - Sports
Palou has a poor qualifying run that tightens IndyCar championship ahead of the finale
Alex Palou’s poor qualifying run and pending engine penalty tightened the IndyCar championship race the day before the season finale at Nashville Superspeedway8 hours ago
More from The Hill
-
The Hill - Politics
Vance says North Carolina crucial for a Trump victory
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) said it would be 'very hard' for former President Trump and himself to win the general election this fall without a victory in North Carolina. “If you just look at the ...7 hours ago - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
Warren warns of ‘profoundly serious consequences’ of a Trump victory
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) warned of “profoundly serious consequences” if former President Trump wins the upcoming election. Warren, in an op-ed published Saturday in The New York Times, ...7 hours ago - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
Tillis, Graham, Greene unite against Loomer’s comments
Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) have united in admonishing racist remarks made by far-right activist Laura Loomer, a supporter of former ...8 hours ago -
The Hill - Politics
Mary Trump on debate: Winners don’t ‘turn down’ the chance to ‘win again’
Former President Trump’s niece, Mary Trump, said she thinks her uncle knows he lost the presidential debate earlier this week because winners don’t turn down the opportunity to “win again.” Mary ...9 hours ago - Donald Trump -
The Hill - Politics
Russia, Ukraine exchange more than 200 in prisoner swap
Russia and Ukraine both announced Saturday that more than 200 people were freed in a prisoner swap between the two countries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky released a statement and video ...11 hours ago - Ukraine