During a Fox Town Hall in Cumming, Georgia, Donald Trump made a bold claim, referring to himself as the “father of IVF” in an attempt to court female voters and address concerns about abortion laws affecting fertility treatments. The Republican candidate’s remarks came after a voter inquired about how abortion restrictions could impact access to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other reproductive healthcare services.
Trump seized the opportunity, saying, “I want to talk about IVF. I’m the father of IVF,” signaling his strong stance on the matter. His comment comes amid growing concerns from reproductive health experts that state-level abortion bans might also endanger IVF practices. In Georgia, the state’s Supreme Court recently reinstated a law that bans abortions after six weeks, prompting fears over its implications for fertility treatments.
The conversation around IVF gained further attention following a February ruling by Alabama’s Supreme Court, which classified embryos as children. This decision has raised uncertainty over the legal handling of frozen embryos, with some patients considering relocating their embryos to states with more permissive laws.
Trump explained that the issue was first brought to his attention by Alabama Senator Katie Britt, whom he described as “fantastically attractive.” He shared that after quickly grasping the concept of IVF, he became a strong advocate for it. “We are totally in favor of IVF,” Trump said at the town hall.
Trump also expressed that some state abortion bans were “too tough” and indicated that those laws would likely undergo revisions due to growing movements within those states. However, he did not specify which states he was referencing.
Later, Trump’s campaign clarified that the former president’s “father of IVF” comment was intended as a joke. Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt explained, “It was a joke President Trump made in jest when he was enthusiastically answering a question about IVF, as he strongly supports widespread access to fertility treatments for women and families.”
Democratic vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris responded to Trump’s remarks, calling them “quite bizarre” and urging focus on the harmful consequences of abortion restrictions. Harris emphasized, “Couples who are working toward growing a family have been harmed by the risk posed to IVF treatments due to these bans.” She also criticized Trump’s stance, suggesting that his actions have been detrimental to women and families.
In contrast, Harris has publicly advocated for federal legislation to protect abortion rights following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Earlier in the year, Trump expressed his desire for the government or insurance companies to cover IVF costs if he were re-elected, though he has yet to provide details on how such a policy would be implemented. Georgia’s divisive six-week abortion ban has further fueled debates, especially after the deaths of two mothers, Amber Thurman and Candi Miller, which have been linked to preventable complications under the law, as reported by ProPublica.
Georgia, a battleground state, could play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the upcoming election.
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