During Tuesday’s ABC News presidential debate, former President Donald Trump aimed to distinguish his and other Republicans’ pro-life stance from that of Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party. The discussion was sparked by moderator Linsey Davis’ question regarding Trump’s evolving views on abortion and why Americans should trust him on the issue.
Trump countered by characterizing Democrats as ‘radical’ on abortion, highlighting their support for overturning Roe v. Wade and returning the issue to state control. He asserted that Republicans are striving to bring the debate ‘back to the states,’ allowing voters to determine their own abortion policies. Trump further argued that Democrats’ extreme views are exemplified by former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s comments about late-term abortions, which he believes demonstrate the Democrats’ extreme stance.
In 2019, Northam was interviewed by Washington, D.C., radio station WTOP about a bill proposed by Delegate Kathy Tran that aimed to loosen Virginia’s abortion restrictions. He addressed Tran’s statement that a woman should be permitted to undergo an abortion even during labor.
Northam explained, ‘This is why decisions such as this should be made by providers, physicians and the mothers and fathers that are involved. When we talk about third-trimester abortions, these are done with the consent of obviously the mother, with the consent of the physician — more than one physician, by the way — and it’s done in cases where there may be severe deformities.’
Northam, a pediatrician, further clarified that if a mother is in labor, the infant would ‘be delivered [and] kept comfortable.’ He added, ‘The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.’
During the debate, Trump emphasized that Northam’s comments demonstrate Democrats’ extreme positions on abortion, while Republicans are committed to returning the issue to the states, allowing for diverse policies based on the will of the people. He also pointed out that many Republicans support exceptions to abortion bans for cases involving the life of the mother, rape, or incest.
Trump celebrated the recent success of Republican-led efforts to return abortion policy to the states, resulting in several red states passing more lenient abortion policies. He cited referendums in Ohio and Kansas as examples of this trend. However, Davis countered Trump’s claim by stating that ‘there is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born.’
Following the debate, conservative commentator Rob Smith shared a video clip of Northam’s WTOP interview, sparking a flurry of online discussions about the nature of late-term abortions and whether they are truly supported by Democrats. This exchange underscored the heated debate surrounding abortion, with both sides attempting to define the boundaries of acceptable abortion policies.
