President Donald Trump, during his State of the Union address on Tuesday evening, criticized New York’s expansive new abortion law and Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s (D) recent comments defending infanticide:
There could be no greater contrast to the beautiful image of a mother holding her infant child than the chilling displays our Nation saw in recent days. Lawmakers in New York cheered with delight upon the passage of legislation that would allow a baby to be ripped from the mother’s womb moments before birth. These are living, feeling, beautiful babies who will never get the chance to share their love and dreams with the world. And then, we had the case of the Governor of Virginia where he basically stated he would execute a baby after birth.
To defend the dignity of every person, I am asking the Congress to pass legislation to prohibit the late-term abortion of children who can feel pain in the mother’s womb.
Let us work together to build a culture that cherishes innocent life. And let us reaffirm a fundamental truth: all children — born and unborn — are made in the holy image of God.
Also during his remarks, Trump called on Congress to pass the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, also called Micah’s Law. That bill bans abortions after 20 weeks post-fertilization on the basis that the unborn child is capable of feeling pain at that point in his or her development.
The law, first introduced in 2013, successfully passed the House of Representatives in 2013, 2015 and 2017. The Senate has yet to pass it. In January, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) reintroduced it into the Senate and Congressman Christopher Smith (R-N.J.) reintroduced it into the House.
President Trump’s remarks also come on the heels of Senate Democrats blocking an effort by Senator Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) to pass the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Act by unanimous consent.
Pro-life leaders praised President Trump calling out those who support late-term abortion and who can’t condemn infanticide.
A Marist/Knights of Columbus poll showed 75 percent of Americans believe abortion should be limited to the first three months of pregnancy. Among those polled, 92 percent of Republicans, 78 percent of independents, and 60 percent of Democrats believe that abortion should be limited — at most — to the first trimester.
In the same poll, 62 percent said they oppose abortions in the case of Down syndrome. Nearly 6 in 10 (59 percent) agree with a ban on abortion after 20 weeks except for saving the life of the mother. A Gallup poll conducted last spring showed 65 percent of Americans believe abortion should be illegal in the 2nd trimester, and 81 percent of Americans think it should be illegal in the 3rd trimester.
