In the first presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, abortion quickly became a central issue. Trump falsely claimed that Democrats, including Harris and her running mate Tim Walz, support killing babies after birth.
He inaccurately stated that their party allows late-term abortions and misidentified key political figures in his argument before correcting himself.
Harris, visibly skeptical, responded by calling Trump’s remarks lies. She pointed out that killing babies after birth is illegal in all states and that late-term abortions are rare, accounting for less than 1% of procedures, typically due to severe medical complications. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 80% of abortions occur within the first nine weeks of pregnancy.
The debate highlighted the political tension over abortion rights following the 2022 Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which ended federal protections for abortion.
Harris criticized Trump for appointing Supreme Court justices with the goal of undoing Roe, stating that he would likely sign a national abortion ban if given the opportunity. Trump denied this, asserting that the issue should be decided by individual states, despite polling that shows most Americans disapprove of the Court’s decision.
Trump’s stance on abortion has been inconsistent, as he has both praised the overturning of Roe and suggested he would support a federal abortion ban after a certain point in pregnancy. Harris seized on this inconsistency, accusing him of being untrustworthy on the issue and labeling his actions as harmful to women.
Harris also emphasized the impact of abortion restrictions on working women, particularly those who must travel to other states for reproductive healthcare. She argued that Trump’s policies have denied essential medical services like IVF to families struggling to conceive.
The issue of reproductive rights remains pivotal in upcoming elections, influencing suburban women voters in swing states and tight congressional races that could determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
