Walz’s Claims About Trump on Abortion and the Economy: A Fact Check

Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee and governor of Minnesota, recently made several inaccurate claims about former President Donald Trump’s positions on abortion and the economy during a Fox News interview. This article fact-checks those statements.

Misrepresentation on Abortion Policy

In the interview, Walz accused Trump of “asking for a nationwide abortion ban.” However, this assertion is misleading. Trump has consistently stated since spring that he believes abortion policy should be determined at the state level rather than mandated federally. Just last week, he reaffirmed his stance, vowing to veto any federal abortion ban that Congress might pass.

On social media, Trump made his position clear: “EVERYONE KNOWS I WOULD NOT SUPPORT A FEDERAL ABORTION BAN, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, AND WOULD, IN FACT, VETO IT, BECAUSE IT IS UP TO THE STATES TO DECIDE BASED ON THE WILL OF THEIR VOTERS (THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE!)”

While it’s true that during his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump supported a federal abortion ban after 20 weeks of pregnancy—allowing exceptions for rape, incest, and threats to the mother’s life—he has shifted away from that position in his current campaign. In March, he suggested he might support a 15-week federal ban, but by April, he reiterated his belief that states should control abortion policy.

Walz’s comments about Trump’s intentions extend beyond historical context or future predictions; they assert a current position that is inaccurate. Although Walz has pointed to Project 2025, a conservative initiative involving former Trump administration officials, to argue that Trump’s policies could lead to restrictive measures on abortion, the claim that Trump is presently advocating for a nationwide ban is not supported by his recent statements.

Walz’s team amplified this inaccurate claim by sharing the interview clip on social media, which raises questions about the accuracy of information being disseminated by campaign representatives.

Misstatement Regarding Economic Conditions

Walz also claimed that when Trump left office, the unemployment rate was higher, percentage-wise, than during the Great Depression, particularly referencing his visit to Ohio. This statement is incorrect. The unemployment rate at the time Trump left office in January 2021 stood at 6.4%. This figure was a significant drop from the pandemic-era peak of 14.8% recorded in April 2020.

In contrast, during the Great Depression, which spanned from 1929 to 1939, unemployment rates exceeded 20% for several years, and it remained above 10% for much of the 1930s. Therefore, comparing the unemployment situation under Trump to that of the Great Depression is misleading and factually inaccurate.

Similar claims have been made by other politicians, including Vice President Kamala Harris, who inaccurately stated during a debate that Trump left behind “the worst unemployment since the Great Depression.” Although Harris used a qualifier, her assertion was still incorrect, as unemployment rates higher than 6.4% were recorded as recently as 2014.

Conclusion

Walz’s recent statements on both abortion and the economy reflect significant inaccuracies. His claims about Trump’s stance on abortion misrepresent the former president’s current position, which advocates for state-level decision-making rather than a federal ban. Additionally, his comments on the unemployment rate distort historical economic conditions, failing to accurately reflect the realities faced during Trump’s presidency.

As political discussions continue to evolve, it is crucial for candidates and representatives to ensure that their statements are grounded in factual accuracy, as misinformation can have significant implications for public understanding and policy discussions.