Donald Trump, the former U.S. President, has instigated a debate within his own party, the Republican Party, and has also been criticized by Democrats, due to his recent comments on in vitro fertilization (IVF) and abortion rights.
At a town hall event on Fox News, Trump recognized himself as the “father of IVF”, voicing his support for making the fertility treatment more accessible and affordable.
In front of an all-female audience, Trump claimed to Fox News host Harris Faulkner, “We really are the party for IVF,” continuing to assert, “I’m the father of IVF.”
The Trump campaign has suggested that either the government should fund IVF treatments or mandate insurance companies to cover the costs. This viewpoint places Trump in conflict with some anti-abortion advocates within his party who object to certain elements of the IVF process, notably the disposal of unused embryos.
Trump’s view on IVF has changed as he navigates the intricate political terrain surrounding reproductive rights. While he has previously taken credit for appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, he has recently criticized some restrictive state laws, for instance, Florida’s six-week abortion ban, although he said he would vote against an amendment to allow abortion up until the time of viability.
Trump’s position has attracted severe criticism from his political rivals, including Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris’s campaign accused Trump of being the “architect of this entire crisis” in relation to threats to fertility treatments. Harris questioned, “Donald Trump called himself ‘the father of IVF.’ What is he talking about? His abortion bans have already jeopardized access to it in states across the country—and his own platform could end IVF altogether.”
IVF access has become a crucial issue in the 2024 presidential election, and both parties have established their positions. Senate Democrats have put forward legislation to protect national IVF access, but Senate Republicans have repeatedly thwarted these efforts. Vice President Harris and other Democrats have charged Republicans with opposing access to IVF and more generally, reproductive freedoms.
The Republican National Committee’s 2024 platform displays a complex position on reproductive rights. It doesn’t call for a federal abortion ban but endorses states enacting fetal personhood through the 14th Amendment, which could effectively ban abortion at all pregnancy stages. The platform also asserts the party will “oppose Late Term Abortion” while “supporting mothers and policies that advance Prenatal Care, access to Birth Control, and IVF.” It does not, however, detail how the party intends to support IVF while simultaneously endorsing fetal personhood policies that could make it unlawful.
The discussion surrounding IVF and abortion rights has caused friction within the Republican Party. Some conservatives, including Christian commentator Terri Green, have voiced concerns about Trump’s endorsement of IVF. Green posted on social media platform X that Trump’s stance is “wrongheaded thinking” and that the saying “we want more babies” is “perverted.”
Conversely, Democrats have attempted to exploit the issue. The White House issued a statement from Vice President Harris condemning Senate Republicans for blocking nationwide IVF protections. Harris claimed, “Congressional Republicans’ repeated refusal to protect access to IVF is not an isolated incident. Extremist so-called leaders have launched a full-on attack against reproductive freedom across our country.”
As the 2024 election nears, the debate on reproductive rights, including access to IVF and abortion, remains a polarizing and central issue. Both Trump and Harris have claimed positions that will probably have a significant impact on their campaigns and could sway voter decisions at the polling stations.