Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear made controversial remarks during a Tuesday interview on MSNBC, suggesting that Senator JD Vance (R-OH) should experience a case of rape that leads to pregnancy. The comments came during a discussion with Mika Brzezinski on the GOP’s claim that Democrats support abortion through all nine months of pregnancy.

Beshear criticized these claims as “fear tactics” and “lies,” pointing out the real-life consequences of restrictive abortion laws. He referenced JD Vance’s previous statement, where Vance referred to pregnancy resulting from rape as “inconvenient.” Beshear retorted, “Like, inconvenience is traffic… I mean, make him go through this.”

Andy Beshear on JD Vance when talking about rape cases leading to pregnancy: "Make him go through this"

pic.twitter.com/zC677buQWT

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) August 20, 2024

Beshear elaborated, “It is someone being violated, someone being harmed, and then telling them that they don’t have options after that. That fails any test of decency, of humanity.”

In response, Vance posted on social media, “What the hell is this? Why is Andy Beshear wishing that a member of my family would get raped?!?”

When questioned later, Beshear did not apologize but denied that he had suggested a member of Vance’s family should experience rape resulting in pregnancy.

Abortion has become a central issue in the 2024 election, with the Harris campaign focusing on the topic. Both Kamala Harris and Joe Biden have accused the Trump-Vance campaign of wanting to implement a nationwide abortion ban, though Trump has repeatedly stated that abortion laws should be decided by individual states.

What the hell is this?

Why is @AndyBeshearKY wishing that a member of my family would get raped?!?

What a disgusting person. https://t.co/11Kp1h92MN

— JD Vance (@JDVance) August 20, 2024

The Trump-Vance campaign responded with a press release condemning Beshear’s comments, calling them “disgusting, vile, and should not be tolerated in American politics,” and urging Kamala Harris to repudiate Beshear’s remarks.