JD Vance, the Ohio senator and Donald Trump’s running mate, has faced backlash for promoting a baseless right-wing conspiracy theory regarding abortion in a resurfaced 2022 podcast interview. Vance's comments, which have recently come to light, suggested a far-fetched scenario involving George Soros allegedly funding planes to transport Black women for abortions across state lines.
During the podcast, Vance remarked: “I’m sympathetic to the view that like, okay, look here, here’s a situation – let’s say Roe v. Wade is overruled. Ohio bans abortion in 2022, or let’s say 2024. And then, you know, every day George Soros sends a 747 to Columbus to load up disproportionately Black women to get them to go have abortions in California. And of course, the left will celebrate this as a victory for diversity – uh, that’s kind of creepy.”
Vance's comments echo a persistent anti-abortion narrative that suggests a racist conspiracy behind abortion practices targeting people of color. While it is true that Black women have historically sought abortions at higher rates, public health experts attribute this to systemic factors such as limited access to contraception and healthcare, rather than any coordinated effort.
The Open Society Foundations, founded by Soros, supports reproductive rights, but there is no evidence to suggest that Soros is orchestrating such activities. Vance’s comments have been widely criticized as perpetuating harmful antisemitic conspiracy theories.
The controversy surrounding Vance’s remarks has intensified as he embarks on his vice-presidential campaign. His stance on abortion has been inconsistent, reflecting the broader Republican divide on the issue. In 2022, Vance suggested support for a national 15-week abortion ban with exceptions, but he has since moderated his position, expressing support for state-level abortion laws and the availability of abortion pills like mifepristone.
However, Vance has also signed a letter urging the Department of Justice to use the Comstock Act to ban the mailing of abortion pills nationwide. This 19th-century law, initially designed to combat obscenity, has been resurrected by anti-abortion activists to advocate for a federal abortion ban.
Taylor Van Kirk, a spokeswoman for Vance, defended him against Democratic criticism, stating: “Senator Vance has made his position clear: he agrees with President Trump that each state should have the chance to individually set their own abortion laws. Desperate attacks from Democrats will not distract voters from the deadly effects of Kamala’s wide-open border, the untenable cost of living caused by her inflationary spending, or any other aspect of her far-left, radical agenda.”
In addition to the abortion controversy, Vance has faced criticism for other remarks. In a 2021 interview with Tucker Carlson, he disparaged Democrats by describing them as “childless cat ladies” and suggested that people without children should not hold power. This comment, directed at prominent figures like Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg, drew widespread condemnation, including from celebrities and Harris’s family.
As Vance’s vice-presidential campaign progresses, his past statements and shifting positions on key issues continue to attract scrutiny, highlighting the challenges and controversies he faces on the national stage.
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