DNC Statement on Nikki Haley’s Fox News Town Hall

In response to Nikki Haley’s Fox News town hall, DNC National Press Secretary Sarafina Chitika released the following statement:

“Nikki Haley’s anti-freedom agenda is so extreme that she’s afraid to tell the truth about it even on Fox. Haley’s repeated lying about her stance on extreme abortion bans shows why Americans cannot trust her when it comes to their basic rights. Her dark vision for America would see women stripped of their ability to make their own health care decisions and leave them unable to afford or access lifesaving medical care. No matter who wins the race for the MAGA base, Haley continues to prove she’s anything but moderate — she’s a far-right MAGA extremist whose agenda is too toxic, too dangerous, and too out-of-touch for women.” 

Haley has said she would sign any national abortion ban that landed on her desk. 

Kirsten Welker: “Would you support a 15-week federal limit?”

Haley: “I would support anything that would pass.”

Haley: “Whatever we can get 60 Senate votes on, isn’t that better than what we have now? And if it’s– if it’s six weeks, that’s great. If it’s 15 weeks, that’s great.” 

Haley: “So what can we do? Is there room for a federal law? I think there is room for a federal law.”

Fox News: “Nikki Haley, 2024 Republican candidate, vows to sign federal abortion ban if elected president”

Haley: “Yes of course I would sign [a federal ban].”

HuffPost: “Nikki Haley Says She ‘Absolutely’ Would Sign 15-Week Abortion Ban If GOP Had The Votes”

Haley: “When it comes to a federal bill, I think there is a place for that.”

Haley has pledged her support for extreme abortion bans before many women know they’re pregnant.

New York Times: “Nikki Haley Says She Would Have Signed Six-Week Abortion Ban as Governor”

Bob Vander Plaats: “If you were governor of South Carolina and that came to your desk, would you sign the heartbeat bill?”

Haley: “Yes.”

Haley has continued in recent weeks to double down on her support for extreme abortion bans and a national abortion ban.

Haley: “If the people decided they wanted a six-week abortion bill, would you go along with it? Of course.”

Haley: “The question asked in Iowa was, ‘If you were governor of South Carolina, and they sent you a six week bill, would you sign it?’ And I said yes.”

Haley: “Is there a place for a federal law [banning abortion]? I think there is.”

Haley: “The issue that we have at hand right now is … is there a place for a federal law. And I think there is a place for a federal law.” 

Haley: “The debate that we’re having in this country is … can there be a federal law that deals with abortion … I do think there’s a place for federal law.”

Haley is running ads that tout her extreme record that includes signing an abortion ban as governor with no exceptions for rape and incest that threatened doctors with jail time.

Haley ad: “Most abortions after 20 weeks are now illegal in South Carolina after Republican Governor Nikki Haley signed a bill into law Wednesday.”

Haley has a yearslong anti-abortion record of supporting efforts to rip away women’s freedoms.

Politico: “Haley, who ‘often clashed with members of her party because she labeled them insufficiently conservative’ on abortion,

  • ‘co-sponsored legislation in 2009 mandating a 24-hour waiting period between a woman’s abortion consultation and the procedure itself’
  • ‘voted to end abortion coverage for victims of rape and incest in the state health plan for employees’
  • ‘signed the most conservative abortion bill South Carolina Republicans were able to pass through both chambers at the time,’ and the law did not include exceptions for rape and incest.’”

Newsweek: “Haley described herself as ‘very pro-life’ and has spent most of her political career fighting for anti-abortion legislation, including signing a law as South Carolina governor in 2016 banning the procedure in most circumstances after 19 weeks of pregnancy unless the mother’s life is at risk.”

TIME: “The law passed the General Assembly last week and blocks women from having abortions after 19 weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest. … Doctors who violate the law could face a fine or jail time.”

Haley has also come under fire for saying she didn’t know the details of Kate Cox’s devastating situation in Texas and dodging multiple questions on the topic.

Jonathan Karl: “Do you think the Supreme Court in Texas made the wrong decision … Can you give a direct answer now?”

Haley: “I mean, the Supreme Court said that the law that the state put was the one that they had to follow, right?”

Karl: “Do you disagree with that decision by the Texas Supreme Court?”

Haley: “Well, I think it is the right thing that unelected justices no longer decide this. … I appreciate that Texas went more on the pro-life side.”

Dana Bash: “How would you make it more human to let Kate Cox deal with this, because she had to leave the state?”

Haley: “I don’t know the exact details of the Texas law.”