Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has made a bold promise to voters in Michigan, pledging to mandate free in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment for women if he wins a second term. During a campaign rally on Thursday, Trump declared, “I’m announcing today in a major statement that under the Trump administration, your government will pay for — or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for — all costs associated with IVF treatment. Because we want more babies, to put it nicely.”
IVF treatments are known for their high cost, often reaching tens of thousands of dollars per round. Many women require multiple rounds, and even then, there is no guarantee of success. Trump also promised that new parents would be able to deduct major newborn expenses from their taxes.
This announcement comes at a time when Trump faces intense scrutiny from Democrats over his role in appointing Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. The decision has shifted the issue of abortion back to individual states.
Despite this, Trump has attempted to present himself as moderate on abortion, even going so far as to declare himself “very strong on women’s reproductive rights.” He has also expressed support for changes to Florida’s six-week abortion ban, which restricts the procedure before many women even realize they are pregnant. In an interview with NBC, Trump stated, “I think the six weeks is too short. It has to be more time.” He added, “I am going to be voting that we need more than six weeks.” Trump has previously criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ decision to sign the bill, calling it a “terrible mistake.”
Trump’s promises on IVF and abortion are likely to be a major point of discussion in the upcoming election, as both issues remain deeply divisive in American society.
