When Bash asked Noem — a Republican governor against abortion rights — if South Dakota will, “going forward, force a 10-year-old in that very same situation to have a baby,” Noem expressed sympathy for the 10-year-old and called the story “tragic.” She also said no one was talking about the rapist in the situation.

“As much as we can talk about what we can do for that little girl, I think we also need to be addressing those sick individuals that do this to our children,” she said.

Bash answered: “But our bodies are our bodies, and women are the ones who get pregnant. And, in this case, it wasn’t a woman. It was a girl.”

When pressed further, Noem said, “What I would say is, I don’t believe a tragic situation should be perpetuated by another tragedy. And so there’s more that we have got to do to make sure that we really are living a life that says every life is precious, especially innocent lives that have been shattered, like that 10-year-old girl.”

Bash also asked if Noem would consider the life of a mother at risk in this situation.

“And I think that’s something that — yes, that situation, the doctor, the family, the individuals closest to that will make the decisions there for that family.”