Donald Trump referred to himself as the “father of IVF” during a town hall for women voters on Wednesday, aiming to win over this crucial demographic on reproductive issues as he trails Democrat Kamala Harris in popularity ahead of the November 5 U.S. election.
Speaking at an all-women event hosted by Fox News in Georgia, a key battleground state, Trump expressed his desire to address concerns about in vitro fertilization (IVF). “I want to talk about IVF. I’m the father of IVF, so I want to hear this question,” he stated.
In response to worries about potential restrictions on fertility treatments, Trump emphasized his party’s support for IVF, despite some conservative Republicans opposing the procedure. Senate Republicans have recently blocked Democratic-led legislation aimed at protecting IVF access, with some arguing that such measures are unnecessary.
“We really are the party for IVF,” Trump asserted. “We want fertilization that is all the way, and the Democrats tried to attack us on it, and we’re out there on IVF, even more than them.”
IVF has become a contentious issue in the election following a ruling by the conservative Alabama Supreme Court in February that classified embryos as children, creating legal uncertainties around embryo storage and usage. This has led some IVF patients to consider relocating their frozen embryos.
Trump’s campaign later clarified that his “father of IVF” comment was made in jest. “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,” spokesperson Karoline Leavitt explained.
In contrast, Harris cautioned against focusing on Trump’s choice of words, stating, “The reality is his actions have been very harmful to women and families in America on this issue.”
Recent polling data shows that 49% of registered women voters support Harris, while 40% back Trump, indicating a broader trust in Democrats on reproductive rights. Trump, who appointed three justices that ended constitutional protections for abortion, has suggested that such matters should be determined by individual states. He has also claimed he would support making IVF free, though details on implementation remain vague.
During the town hall, Trump also returned to familiar themes, warning of an “enemy from within” and labeling his opponents as “evil.” He was responding to a comment from Fox host Harris Faulkner regarding Harris’s criticism of an earlier Trump interview, where he suggested deploying the National Guard to confront “radical-left lunatics.” Although out of office, Trump has expressed interest in using military force against civilian protesters during his presidency.
