Many are rightly horrified over the proposed Virginia law that would allow women to kill their babies right up until birth—and possibly after—but President Trump said as “terrible” as it is, the radical abortion agenda being pushed by Democrats in the commonwealth will “lift up the whole pro-life movement like maybe it’s never been lifted up before.”
In an interview with the Daily Caller, Trump was reacting to the legislation put forth by Virginia Delegate Kathy Tran (which has since reportedly been tabled). In advocating for The Repeal Act, which would remove all existing abortion restrictions, Tran acknowledged that the bill allows abortion even when a woman is in labor.
Virginia House Majority Leader Todd Gilbert: So how late in the third trimester could a physician perform an abortion if he indicated it would impair the mental health of the woman?
Train: Or physical health.
Gilbert: Okay. I’m talking about mental health.
Tran: I mean, through the third trimester. The third trimester goes all the way up to 40 weeks.
Gilbert: So to the end of the third trimester?
Tran: Yes. I don’t think we have a limit in the bill.
Gilbert: So where it’s obvious that a woman is about to give birth, she has physical signs that she’s about to give birth, would that still be a point at which she could still request an abortion if she was so certified? She’s dilating?
Tran: Mr. Chairman, you know, that would be a decision that the doctor, the physician, and the woman would make.
Gilbert: I understand that. I’m asking if your bill allows that.
Tran: My bill would allow that, yes.
“I thought it was terrible,” Trump said of her remarks, asking the DC if they remembered when he discussed how “Hillary Clinton was willing to rip the baby out of the womb? That’s what it is, that’s what they’re doing, it’s terrible.”
Virginia’s Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, a former pediatric neurologist, weighed in on the controversy in an interview with WTOP radio and said he would sign legislation that would allow abortion (infanticide) until after birth.
VA gov on abortion this morning:
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) January 30, 2019
“If a mother is in labor...the infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians & mother" pic.twitter.com/cc15pVLjIQ
“I’m surprised that he did that, I’ve met him a number of times,” said Trump, who hadn't heard the remarks for himself at the time of the interview.
Discussing both Democrats' comments, Trump said ultimately their extreme position will only help the pro-life movement.
“This is going to lift up the whole pro-life movement like maybe it’s never been lifted up before," he said. "The pro-life movement is very much a 50-50, it’s a very 50-50 issue, actually it’s gained a point or two over the years.”
He continued: “I think this will very much lift up the issue because people have never thought of it in those terms.”