Donald Trump announced on Thursday that if re-elected, his administration would cover the costs of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for all Americans who require it, though he did not specify how the funding would be arranged. This announcement comes at a time when reproductive rights are a significant issue for the Republican candidate, especially since the Supreme Court's decision in 2022 weakened federal protections for abortion access. The situation was further complicated by a February ruling in Alabama that classified frozen embryos from IVF as children, leading to temporary service halts at several clinics. Trump expressed his support for IVF following this ruling, stating at a rally in Potterville, Michigan, that under his administration, either the government or insurance companies would be responsible for covering all IVF-related expenses.
Trump did not provide details on the implementation or funding of this proposal, but in a pre-event interview with NBC, he mentioned that insurance companies could be mandated to pay under certain conditions. The 2022 Supreme Court ruling has given states the authority to decide on personhood issues, potentially affecting other aspects of reproductive health, including IVF. Currently, not all Americans have insurance that covers fertility treatments, with IVF costs often exceeding $20,000 per cycle, making it unaffordable for many.
Additionally, the former president proposed that new parents could deduct significant newborn expenses from their taxes during a second term, emphasizing his pro-family stance. Despite his recent consistent support for IVF, Trump's stance on abortion has been inconsistent, varying from being pro-choice in 1999 to pro-life in 2011 and advocating for punishment for women seeking abortions in 2016. He has also taken credit for appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned federal abortion rights, yet expressed mixed views on a Florida referendum to reverse the state's six-week abortion ban.
Meanwhile, Trump's campaign clarified that he had not specified how he would vote on the Florida referendum. As the election campaign intensifies, Trump and his rival, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, are focusing on swing states. Harris, speaking in Savannah, Georgia, warned that Trump could enact a national abortion ban if re-elected, framing the election as a battle for women's freedom to make decisions about their own bodies without government interference.
