Kamala Harris Calls Out Trump’s “Hypocrisy” on Abortion as Early Voting Begins

Kamala Harris criticized Donald Trump and the Republican Party over abortion bans, calling them "hypocrites" at a campaign rally as early voting begins for the 2024 election.

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Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States, spoke out strongly against former president Donald Trump and the Republican Party on Friday, September 20th, as early voting began for the 2024 election. 

Speaking at a rally in Atlanta, Georgia, Harris attacked the GOP's stance on abortion and called them "hypocrites" for their role in restrictive abortion laws, particularly in Georgia.

The vice president's speech is one of her strongest yet in the ongoing election campaign. Harris blamed Trump for the abortion ban in Georgia, which, according to her, caused the deaths of two women.

 "And these hypocrites want to start talking about how this is in the best interest of women and children," Harris said to loud cheers from the mostly female audience. 

"Where have you been when it comes to taking care of the women and children of America? How dare they."

Focusing on Abortion Rights

Since stepping in as the Democratic candidate for president, replacing Joe Biden two months ago, Harris has made abortion rights a central issue of her campaign. 

She often refers to "Trump abortion bans" in her speeches, blaming the former president for the restrictions that have followed the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022.

During his presidency, Trump appointed three conservative judges to the Supreme Court, which led to the decision that removed the national right to abortion. Since then, at least 20 states, including Georgia, have enacted laws that severely limit access to abortion. In Georgia, the law bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.

Harris also gave another passionate speech later that Friday in Madison, Wisconsin, where she called the abortion bans "immoral" and accused Trump of being the architect of what she described as a "health care crisis."

A Personal Story

In both speeches, Harris brought up the story of Amber Nicole Thurman, a 28-year-old mother from Georgia who tragically died in 2022 after experiencing complications from taking abortion pills. 

Thurman suffered from a rare condition, and a state investigation later found that her death could have been prevented if a critical procedure had been performed sooner.

Harris met with Thurman's family a day before her rally in Atlanta, at an event hosted by Oprah Winfrey. "We will make sure Amber is not just remembered as a statistic," Harris vowed during her speech, using Thurman's story to highlight the human cost of restrictive abortion laws.

Energizing Voters as Election Day Nears

Harris's campaign speeches came at a crucial moment, as voters in Virginia, Minnesota, and South Dakota began casting their ballots in early voting. "The election is basically here," Harris said to the crowd in Madison. "It's basically here, and we have work to do, to energize, to organize, and to mobilize."

The election, which will take place on November 5, is shaping up to be a tight race. 

Early voting and mail-in voting allow voters to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day, which many voters choose to do in case of scheduling conflicts. Early voting is also seen as a way to boost enthusiasm and turnout for both campaigns.

In Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington D.C., dozens of people lined up to vote on the first day of early voting. "I'm excited," said Michelle Kilkenny, a 55-year-old voter. "Voting early, especially on day one, helps the campaign and raises the enthusiasm level."

Another voter, 71-year-old Ann Spiker, shared her concerns about the upcoming election. "I usually vote by mail, but I'm voting today because it's so exciting," she said. "I can't believe we can pick Donald Trump again. When I think about it, I become very worried. That's why we're out here doing what we can."

Trump's Controversies Continue

Donald Trump, now 78, is facing several criminal charges, including accusations that he tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which led to the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021. 

Though these charges, Trump remains a strong contender in the 2024 race, and his influence over the Republican Party continues to shape policy, especially on issues like abortion.

Trump has been vocal about his opposition to early voting and mail-in voting, claiming—without evidence—that these methods were used to steal the 2020 election from him. These claims have been widely debunked, but they continue to be a major talking point in his campaign.