Fox News host Trey Gowdy stepped in on Sunday night to end a clash between former President Donald Trump’s advisor Kellyanne Conway clashed with former Democratic Party deputy press secretary Jose Aristimuño over abortion and “viability.”
The pair appeared on the host’s Sunday Night in America with Trey Gowdy show ahead of Tuesday night’s ABC-hosted 90-minute presidential debate.
Gowdy raised the Californian ballot moving forward that uses the word “viability” and asked Conway what she believed Trump would say if asked about the issue during the debate. Conway began by defending Trump against recent criticism that he changed on the issue, after he alienated social conservatives by arguing Florida’s ban on abortion after six weeks of pregnancy was too strict. He later backpedaled on the stance.
Conway replied: “I discussed this with him directly and I think he will say what he always said. First, he broke no news and I don’t know why everybody was clutching pearls and agitated on both sides – he has long said six weeks is too early in his view. And that anything after 20 weeks is too late. He signed, in October 2017, Trey, a presidential statement saying as much. And so, viability is passed that – 24 weeks or so.”
She continued: “But there is an escape clause in the Florida amendment, like there is in Michigan, that you can get a note from a medical professional to allow you to get abortion passed for viability.”
Pivoting to attack Harris as the “radical” on the abortion issue, she added: “Look, here’s the point, the thing that President Trump said to Kamala Harris, you and your party are for up until the moment of birth including in California. It’s very liberal for this policy.”
Conway argued that in California, where Harris is from and served as senator, that medical intervention and advance meant that the age of “viability” had improved and demanded a “science conversation about viability.”
She added: “So he can talk about that too but she’s the radical on abortion, abortion anywhere in a time, no restrictions and no regulations and that is not where most American women are.”
The host pivoted to Aristimuño who defended his party’s position: “Well, look, there is no question and she’s talked about the whole issue with liberals in New York. I know Republicans want to remind people: ‘No, Democrats want to make sure that a woman to get an abortion until nine months.’ That is not true. It’s only the first trimester and most Democrats and most Americans would agree maybe 8 or 12 weeks if that.”
“It’s not true,” Conway interrupted.
The Democratic strategist replied: “It’s not — Kellyanne, you know that’s not true. There’s a few Democrats in New York — ”
Conway cut in again: “What’s the law? I’m sorry, I can’t have you lying when I’m sitting on the set. What is the law in California and New York? Do you know what the law is in California and New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Colorado? It is not 8 or 12 weeks, sir.”
Before things got too heated, Gowdy ended the show: “If Fox gives me a two-hour show, we will keep going, but right now it’s just one hour. Thank you both for joining us on a Sunday night and I would love to have you both back.”
Watch above on Fox News.
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