Fox News host Howard Kurtz took the opportunity to fact-check former President Donald Trump on Sunday after an interview where Trump repeated a well-known false claim about abortion.
During an interview with Trump, conducted by Kurtz, the host raised the question of whether the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee would back a nationwide abortion ban after 16 weeks of pregnancy. Though Trump has reportedly expressed support for such a proposal in private, he refrained from making a definite commitment in public.
Trump responded by highlighting the impact of his three conservative Supreme Court appointments, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. He emphasized their role in overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022 and eliminating federal abortion protections. Additionally, he reiterated his previous claims that Democratic opponents endorse abortions “after the baby is born,” referencing statements made by former Democratic Virginia Governor Ralph Northam.
“They took action, and let me tell you, it was a positive step from many perspectives. Firstly, the Democrats are the ones with radical views on this matter. They support the idea of allowing abortions in the seventh, eighth, ninth months, and even after birth,” Trump emphasized. “Our aim is to support women while also taking into account the principles of Roe. If you take a closer look at the situation, you will see that abortions were being performed in the late stages of pregnancy. It is undeniable that nobody wants the killing of a baby after it is born.”
“If a mother is in labor, I can provide you with a clear scenario,” stated Northam during a radio interview. “The baby would be delivered, ensuring their safety. We would ensure the baby remains comfortable and, if necessary, resuscitate them based on the wishes of the mother and the family. Subsequently, a discussion would take place between the doctors and the mother.”
After the interview, Kurtz refuted Trump’s inaccurate claims regarding abortion. It is important to note that no lawmakers endorse the killing of a newborn baby, as this goes against the principles of medical ethics. Additionally, late-term abortions, occurring in the third trimester, are extremely uncommon. Despite being frequently mentioned by anti-abortion advocates, these procedures are typically performed in cases involving severe fetal abnormalities, non-viable fetuses, or threats to the mother’s health that can have significant emotional implications.
Kurtz also pointed out that Northam later rectified his comments.
According to Kurtz, former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam did mention that in situations where there is a severe deformity or a non-viable fetus, the mother and doctors would make a decision regarding the baby’s fate after birth. However, he later retracted his statement, clarifying that he was not referring to the act of killing babies, but rather addressing extremely rare and tragic cases. It is worth noting that a CDC survey reveals that less than 1 percent of all abortions occur at or after seven months of pregnancy.
Trump’s office was contacted by Newsweek via email on Sunday afternoon for comment.
What the Polls Show
In a recent poll conducted by Gallup in 2023, it was found that 34 percent of Americans support the legality of abortions under any circumstances. A majority of 51 percent stated that they believe abortions should be legal under certain circumstances. On the other hand, only 13 percent of respondents believed that abortions should be illegal in all circumstances.
According to Gallup data, the percentage of Republicans who believed abortion should be illegal in all circumstances decreased from 15 percent in 2021 to 8 percent in 2023. A majority of GOP voters, accounting for 66 percent, expressed support for the legality of abortion under certain circumstances, while 24 percent believed it should be legal in all circumstances.
