White House responds to Gov. Abbott’s defense of Texas abortion law

During the White House briefing on Wednesday, press secretary Jen Psaki responded to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s defense of the state’s restrictive abortion law by saying that Texas will “eliminate all rapists.” Psaki said, “If Gov. Abbott has a means of eliminating all rapists, or all rape, from the United States, then there’ll be bipartisan support for that.” Psaki then said that the Biden administration will work to ensure women in Texas have access to health care.

Video Transcript

- A couple questions on Texas. The governor there was asked about the lack of an exception for rape or incest in the abortion law. And I don't know if you heard his comments, but he said-- his answer to that question was that Texas will work tirelessly to make sure that we eliminate rapists off the street. Just wondering if the White House has a response to that.

JEN PSAKI: Well, if Governor Abbott has a means of eliminating all rapists or all rape from the United States, then there'd be bipartisan support for that. But given there has never in the history of the country and the world been any leader who's ever been able to eliminate rape, eliminate rapists from our streets, it's even more imperative-- it's one of the many reasons, I should say, not the only reason, why women in Texas should have access to health care.

So it does not change our objectives, does not change our commitment. The Department of Justice, the attorney general announced a step on Monday. Our Department of Justice is continuing to look at legal options. Our Department of Health and Human Services is also continuing to look at all options. And the president has made clear that it's a priority to do everything we can to ensure women in Texas have access to health care.