Trump Biden debate fact checked

On the subject of abortion, Biden said he would restore Roe v Wade if elected to another term.

When asked if he supports legal limits on how late a woman should be able to terminate a pregnancy, the president pointed to his support for the framework in the Roe decision.

CLAIM: Trump responded: “So that means he can take the life of the baby in the ninth month and even after birth” and added “he’s willing to, as we say, rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month and kill the baby.”

VERDICT: Roe v Wade’s framework states during the second trimester, the state may regulate abortion only to protect the health of the woman. During the third trimester, the state may regulate or prohibit abortion to promote the interest of the fetus, except when it is necessary to preserve the woman’s life or health.

During the 2016 campaign, Trump promised to overturn Roe v Wade, a landmark Supreme Court decision that guaranteed the right to an abortion nationwide until the foetus becomes viable outside of the womb (after about 24 weeks).

This ruling was repealed in 2022 by the court, which included three Trump-appointed justices.

Killing a newborn is illegal in every US state, and no state is attempting to pass a law which would change that.

Less than 1% of abortions in the US happen from 21 weeks onwards, according to data from the CDC, external.

And 93.5% of abortions happen in the first trimester, so before 13 weeks.