Fact-Checking President Biden’s Claims on Abortion Laws in Florida and Arizona

WLRN Partners with PolitiFact to Fact-Check Florida Politicians

In a recent address at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, President Joe Biden pointed fingers at former President Donald Trump for the restrictive abortion measures taking place nationwide. Biden specifically called out Trump for his role in overturning Roe v. Wade and enabling states like Arizona and Florida to implement strict abortion bans.

Biden’s remarks come just eight days before Florida is set to enforce a six-week abortion ban. The President, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, has been vocal about their campaign message surrounding abortion rights, emphasizing the importance of protecting access to reproductive healthcare.

However, fact-checkers have scrutinized some of Biden’s statements, including his claim that Trump is currently working with “MAGA extremists” to implement a nationwide abortion ban. Contrary to Biden’s assertion, Trump has publicly stated that he would not sign a nationwide ban if it were to reach his desk. Additionally, Trump has expressed support for leaving abortion regulations to the states and has advocated for exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and the woman’s life.

Furthermore, Biden’s assertion that Trump advocated for punishing women who seek abortions is misleading. While Trump made a controversial statement in 2016 about the possibility of some form of punishment for abortion, he quickly retracted his remarks and clarified that any legal responsibility should fall on the healthcare providers, not the women seeking abortions.

Biden’s claim that Trump has taken the country back 160 years with Arizona’s 1864 abortion ban also lacks context. Despite Trump’s past actions, he has criticized the extreme measures taken by Arizona and Florida, indicating that they may have gone too far.

As the debate over abortion rights continues to unfold, it is crucial to fact-check the statements made by political leaders to ensure accuracy and transparency in the discussion. With the upcoming high-stakes abortion measure on the November ballot in Florida, the issue of reproductive rights remains at the forefront of the political landscape.

The partnership between WLRN and PolitiFact aims to provide the public with verified information, free from bias or agenda, to empower voters to make informed decisions on critical issues like abortion rights.