After President Biden claimed during the presidential debate that no Democrats want late-term abortion, pro-lifers took to social media. Joe Biden’s comment, “We are not for late-term abortion. Period. Period. Period,” caused many pro-life voters to object, saying Democrats regularly speak favorably about late-term abortion.

President Biden, angered by Trump highlighting infanticide, breaks from Dems on abortion: "We are not for late term abortion. Period. Period. Period."

Trump: "Under Roe v. Wade, you have late term abortion. You can do whatever you want, depending on the state. We don't think… pic.twitter.com/tmPRkPK1Sd

— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) June 28, 2024

Many also took the opportunity to repost the statements by former Virginia Governor Ralph Northam explaining the need for post-birth abortion—an incident which Trump mentioned during the debate exchange.

Many on the left are calling what Trump said about "after-birth" abortions and Ralph Northam a lie. Here's then governor of VA Northam in his on words. You tell me what he's saying if Trump was lying. pic.twitter.com/UNX4ICmkAK

— Joe Pags Pagliarulo (@JoeTalkShow) June 28, 2024

Another piece of evidence conservatives and pro-lifers resurfaced was a viral clip from 2019 of Virginia lawmakers confirming they draw no limits on abortion timelines. Overall, voter reactions to Trump and Biden's comments on abortion have fanned ideological and political divides.

Heartbreaking... This isn't in New York, this isn't in California, this happened just this week right here in Virginia. @VAHouseDems proposed legislation to provide abortions up to just seconds before that precious child takes their first breath. Watch for yourself. pic.twitter.com/AxgPVyI6kU

— Virginia House GOP (@vahousegop) January 29, 2019

Many Americans seem to support Democrat narratives around women’s reproductive rights. However, Democrats have only a slight edge over Republicans regarding sentiment towards abortion issues.

• In the last 10 days, Democrats averaged 48.2% approval on abortion while Republicans averaged a very close 47.7% approval.
• Meanwhile, Donald Trump averaged 48% approval on abortion issues compared to Biden’s 47%.
• While Democrats overall seem to gain an advantage on abortion issues, among their supporters, Biden has lower approval compared to Trump.

Democrats Defend Their Abortion Views

Pro-choice Democrats defend Biden citing his fierce defense of women's reproductive rights. They express gratitude towards his administration for its advocacy for codifying Roe v. Wade into federal law. They express fear of further eroding reproductive freedoms should Trump or other conservative leaders regain power.

However, Biden also received critiques from the right and the left for his claim that, if reelected, he would restore Roe v. Wade. Many posted their belief that is words are hollow, considering he is currently the sitting president.

You are currently president https://t.co/Jxjq1utzWF

— Jake Flores 🇵🇸 (@feraljokes) June 28, 2024

Despite the debate dissatisfaction and insufficient action to restore Roe v. Wade, most Democrats view Biden as a bulwark against Republican abortion policies. Democratic voters often frame their views as important for social justice, linking reproductive rights to a wider agenda that includes LGBT rights, healthcare access, and the protection of democracy.

They see Biden’s stance, despite any inaccuracies, as reflective of party commitments to safeguard abortion rights across the nation.

Correcting the Record on Late-Term Abortion

Conservative critiques of Biden’s comment suggest he either cannot remember his party’s stance or is deliberately lying about it. They argue late-term abortions do occur and that a growing number of the Democratic Party supports abortion until birth.

Pro-life voters affirm Trump’s statement that both Republican and Democrat voters disapprove of late term abortion. They say any form of late-term abortion is infanticide, which many Americans still believe is morally and ethically repugnant.

Most Republicans view Biden’s dismissal and denial of the Democratic stance as a way to obfuscate a part of the issue which is still highly contentious within his own voter base.

Conservative Objections to the Democratic Platform

Pro-lifers assert that Biden's stance on abortion issues is misleading and fails to represent the true Democratic platform. They view Democratic phrases like "reproductive rights," and "women’s healthcare” as euphemisms designed to obscure the reality of abortion. They believe these terms intentionally obscure the realities of terminating a pregnancy.

Conservatives also criticize Biden for suggesting reproductive rights have been "stripped away" by Republicans. They contend the rollback of federal protections for abortion, particularly in Roe v. Wade, simply returned the issue to the states, where they believe it constitutionally belongs. In this view, Biden’s framing of the issue as a unilateral removal of rights misrepresents the decentralized nature of American federalism and the role of state legislatures in deciding abortion laws.

Another pro-life argument focuses on Biden's historical inconsistency. Critics highlight his long political career, during which he has changed stances. They point out Biden himself historically opposed federal funding for abortions, arguing against Roe v. Wade in the past. These hypocrisies, they argue, undermine his credibility and paint him as an opportunist rather than a steadfast advocate for women's rights.