During a Fox News town hall in Georgia on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump controversially declared himself the “father of IVF,” a fertility treatment that has faced challenges following the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. His comments came during an event framed around women’s issues and attended by an all-female audience, but the exact meaning behind his statement remains unclear.
On the campaign trail, Trump has repeatedly emphasized his support for in vitro fertilization (IVF), despite delivering a series of inconsistent messages regarding his stance on abortion. “We really are the party for IVF,” Trump stated, asserting that Republicans advocate for fertilization, while accusing Democrats of attacking them on the issue. “We want fertilization, and it’s all the way… So, we’re totally in favor.”
IVF, a costly and established treatment used by millions, became a focal point in the national debate over abortion and reproductive rights earlier this year. This shift occurred when Alabama’s Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos should be treated as children, allowing for the possibility of wrongful death charges against those who destroy them. This decision sparked outrage among reproductive rights advocates, who feared it would have a chilling effect on IVF practices, potentially deterring doctors and driving up costs. In response, Alabama’s Republican-led Legislature rushed to pass a bill to protect providers and patients from civil and criminal liability.
In light of the Alabama ruling, Trump and the Republican Party distanced themselves from the implications of the decision. Meanwhile, Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, have framed the ruling as indicative of the policies Trump might pursue if re-elected. “Donald Trump called himself ‘the father of IVF.’ What is he talking about?” Harris questioned on social media. “His abortion bans have already jeopardized access to it in states across the country—and his own platform could end IVF altogether.”
Following the Alabama decision, Trump claimed he would implement a federal policy to make IVF free of charge, though he did not provide details on how this would be achieved or who would fund it.
Senate Democrats have attempted to draw attention to IVF access ahead of the upcoming elections by introducing a bill to guarantee nationwide access, which Republicans have blocked on two occasions. GOP members have voiced support for IVF but criticized the bill as unnecessary government overreach.
During the town hall, Trump also criticized some states for enacting stringent abortion restrictions, describing these laws as “too tough” and suggesting they need revision. “The states are now voting (on abortion rights), and honestly, some of them are going much more liberal, like in Ohio,” he noted.
Fox News host Harris Faulkner pointed out that some states are not moving toward liberalization, particularly those that have enacted bans or restrictions post-Roe. Trump responded, insisting that these laws would be revisited, emphasizing that “it’s going to be redone. They’re going to, you’re going to end up with a vote of the people. And some of them, I agree, they’re too tough, too tough.”
Despite his previous reluctance to clarify his position, Trump indicated earlier this month that he would veto a federal abortion ban. His running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance, acknowledged the GOP’s struggles with the issue during his vice presidential debate, suggesting the party needs to improve its approach to earn the trust of the American public.
Polling data indicates that two-thirds of Americans oppose the Supreme Court’s ruling, according to a recent Marquette Law School survey conducted this summer.
Related topics:
