President Donald Trump alleged on Thursday that Virginia Governor Ralph Northam supported the execution of babies under the guise of late-term abortions.
Trump has emphasized his Christian faith during his re-election campaign, reaching out to pro-life groups for support. During speeches at campaign events, Trump has said that Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden would ban religion if he were elected. Biden did endorse Northam's 2017 campaign for governor. On Thursday, Trump connected Biden and Northam during his comments on abortion.
"The governor of Virginia said we will execute the baby after the baby's born," Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity. "That's when you know—you talk about late-term abortion, this is early-term execution. And it's a very, very bad thing but you don't ever hear anybody talking about pro-life, pro-choice with Biden."
"I don't think he'd know how to discuss it," Trump added.
Newsweek reached out to Northam's office for comment.
Trump's remarks may stem from a 2019 radio interview Northam participated in concerning third-term abortions. Northam was attempting to explain the nuances of proposed legislation in the Virginia House of Delegates that would have expanded the guidelines for women to obtain abortions in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Northam said that those abortions could happen in cases of severe deformity or a non-viable fetus.
"If a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen," Northam said. "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 and the mother."
Some observers interpreted Northam's remarks as tacit support of infanticide, which is illegal under Virginia law. In a statement at the time, Northam's office clarified that "the governor's comments were limited to the actions physicians would take in the event that a woman in those circumstances went into labor."
In a letter sent to pro-life supporters in September, Trump furthered his claims that Biden and the Democratic Party "unequivocally supports abortion on-demand, up until the moment of birth, and even infanticide—leaving babies to die after failed abortions."
In August, Biden called Trump's comments about his belief system "shameful."
"It's beneath the office he holds and it's beneath the dignity the American people so rightly expect and deserve from their leaders," Biden said.
Biden has voiced strong support for pro-choice issues, including the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling which made abortion on-demand legal. During a town hall meeting on Tuesday, Biden said that if elected he would "pass legislation to make Roe the law of the land."
