Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate running against current Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, made false claims about abortions during the Sept. 10 presidential debate.
"You could do abortions in the seventh month, the eighth month, the ninth month, and probably after birth," Trump falsely stated when asked if he would support a national abortion ban.
Trump repeated the claim several times, and ABC's Linsey Davis fact-checked Trump in between responses by the two candidates.
"There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it's born," Davis said of Trump's remarks.
Nationally, more than 80% of abortions happen at or before nine weeks of pregnancy, according to 2021 abortion data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while 93.5% of all abortions were performed at 13 weeks or less. The rate of abortions dips drastically between weeks 14-20, at just 5.7%. Less than 1% of abortions take place after 21 weeks.
According to ODH data for abortions in 2022, not a single abortion took place in the state for pregnancies after 25 weeks gestation, which is three weeks before the end of the second trimester.
Of the 342 abortions that took place between 19-24 weeks, 341 were considered non-viable, meaning the pregnancies would not survive or could not be carried to term. It is illegal to get an abortion in Ohio after the gestational age of fetal viability, which generally begins between 21-24 weeks.
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Nationally, more than 80% of abortions happen at or before nine weeks of pregnancy, according to 2021 abortion data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while 93.5% of all abortions were performed at 13 weeks or less. The rate of abortions dips drastically between weeks 14-20, at just 5.7%. Less than 1% of abortions take place after 21 weeks.
Numbers in Ohio
In Ohio, the state's health department publishes detailed data on abortions carried out in the state, including a breakdown of how many abortions happen during a range of gestational ages.According to ODH data for abortions in 2022, not a single abortion took place in the state for pregnancies after 25 weeks gestation, which is three weeks before the end of the second trimester.
Of the 342 abortions that took place between 19-24 weeks, 341 were considered non-viable, meaning the pregnancies would not survive or could not be carried to term. It is illegal to get an abortion in Ohio after the gestational age of fetal viability, which generally begins between 21-24 weeks.
Current abortion laws in Ohio
In November of 2023, Ohio voters passed a citizen-led state constitutional amendment to enshrine the right to reproductive freedom, protecting abortion access. Issue 1 passed with wide margins — 56.8% of the vote. Ohio was the first red state to restore abortion rights after the Supreme Court returned the decision to the states.
Ohio has become the only option for many out-of-state patients seeking an abortion. Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio recently told CityBeat that around 51% of all abortions happening in Ohio are for out-of-state patients.
These patients are commonly coming from states with total abortion bans, like Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. But even states that have enacted and maintained narrow abortion windows, like Florida and South Carolina, are seeing citizens flee to Ohio for care.
Ohio has become the only option for many out-of-state patients seeking an abortion. Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio recently told CityBeat that around 51% of all abortions happening in Ohio are for out-of-state patients.
These patients are commonly coming from states with total abortion bans, like Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia. But even states that have enacted and maintained narrow abortion windows, like Florida and South Carolina, are seeing citizens flee to Ohio for care.
Ohio’s 24-hour waiting period law for abortion patients was put on pause by a Franklin County judge on Aug. 23. The 24-hour law, which required patients seeking an abortion to wait 24 hours after a consultation appointment to think about their decision, is being challenged by American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lawyers on behalf of abortion providers.
