In a heated presidential debate, ABC's Linsey Davis dismissed former President Trump's claims about babies being left to die after failed abortions, only for new reports to reveal that in Minnesota, at least eight such babies were indeed abandoned in 2021.
During Tuesday night's presidential debate, ABC’s Linsey Davis challenged former President Donald Trump's comments about the treatment of babies who survive abortions, declaring, “There is no state in this country where it is legal to kill a baby after it’s born.” Davis' statement, made while co-moderating the debate with David Muir, came after Trump criticized Democrats for their stance on abortion, citing a controversial 2019 interview with then-Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.
Trump had referenced Northam's discussion on the procedure that follows a failed late-term abortion, though he mistakenly identified Northam as the governor of West Virginia. Davis’ attempt to debunk Trump’s remarks sparked immediate backlash from journalists and watchdog groups questioning her “fact check.”
The Media Research Center countered Davis' claim by pointing to a troubling report from The Daily Signal. According to Mary Margaret Olohan’s article, data from the Minnesota Department of Health revealed that between January 1 and December 31, 2021, at least eight babies who survived abortion attempts were left to die. This data aligns with previous reports highlighting similar incidents over the years.
Under a 2015 Minnesota law, the state was required to document whether abortions resulted in live births, the actions taken to preserve those babies, and their survival outcomes. The report showed that in several cases, no measures were taken to assist the babies, with some being left to die or receiving only comfort care.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins weighed in on the debate, challenging Davis’ assertion and citing data that shows children born alive after failed abortions lack legal protections in several states, including Minnesota under Governor Tim Walz. Perkins shared a map and additional data on X, highlighting discrepancies in state-level protections.
Matthew Schmitz, founder of Compact Magazine, also criticized the fact-check, referencing earlier reports from pro-life journalist Micaiah Bilger that documented similar findings about Minnesota’s handling of such cases.
The controversy underscores a deep divide in the abortion debate, with significant scrutiny on state policies and their impact on the lives of babies born alive after failed abortion attempts.
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