In a strikingly odd assertion, Donald Trump recently identified himself as “the father of IVF,” despite his controversial actions that have undermined reproductive rights, particularly the overturning of Roe v. Wade and his party’s attempts to restrict access to IVF.
With the Presidential Election approaching, many women are anxious about the potential further erosion of reproductive rights under Trump’s leadership and that of J. D. Vance. Neither has sufficiently convinced the public that they will safeguard IVF access, especially following Trump’s repeal of Roe v. Wade, which resulted in states such as Alabama classifying frozen embryos as children. This has led to a hesitancy among hospitals regarding fertility treatments, fearful of legal repercussions. Although Vance has professed his support for IVF, he chose to abstain from a Senate vote on a bill intended to protect IVF, which was quashed by other Republicans. Additionally, Vance has previously advocated for a nationwide abortion ban that would restrict women’s ability to travel for abortions and has supported laws without exemptions for rape or incest.
Against the backdrop of Republican hostility toward IVF and the repeated failures of Trump and Vance to assert their commitment to protecting it, Trump’s recent declaration stands out as particularly bewildering.
Trump’s Confounding Comments on IVF
In a recent Fox News town hall aimed at a female audience, Trump addressed women’s issues following a series of peculiar public appearances, such as a 40-minute episode of him swaying silently to music at another event, without engaging the audience. During the Fox News gathering, the topic of IVF access emerged, emphasizing its significance in the upcoming election.
When IVF was brought up, Trump proclaimed, “Oh, I want to talk about IVF.” He then stated, “I’m the father of IVF, so I want to hear this question.” The meaning behind this statement is puzzling, as it appears he is attempting to position himself as the originator of IVF at a time when his party seeks to restrict it. The unusual comment quickly went viral on X, drawing attention from users who voiced their concern over Trump’s erratic behavior while highlighting how his actions regarding Roe v. Wade and Project 2025 signify a major threat to IVF accessibility.
Trump: “I’m the father of IVF” FACT CHECK: IVF is under threat across the country because Trump ended Roe v. Wade and his Project 2025 plan could effectively ban IVF altogether. pic.twitter.com/tEOUiufDjO
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) October 16, 2024
A deranged Donald Trump, whose own MAGA Republican party has voted AGAINST a bill to protect IVF access, absurdly claims “I’m the father of IVF.” Trump’s grip on reality is completely gone.?Stop acting like this is normal.pic.twitter.com/JfqZUOxYxA
— Really American? ? (@ReallyAmerican1) October 16, 2024
Gwen Walz: Trump just called himself ‘the father of IVF’Crowd: *laughs at Trump*Gwen Walz: The father of IVF? More like the father of Georgia’s abortion ban https://t.co/w7rDXe3RxE pic.twitter.com/ZEVUEX4HwQ
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) October 16, 2024
However, Trump’s comments on IVF took a stranger turn during this town hall. He revealed that he was unaware of what IVF entailed until quite recently. He claimed to have discovered the term only in February, following Alabama’s ruling regarding embryos. He recalled receiving a phone call from Senator Katie Britt, whom he described as “a fantastically attractive person from Alabama,” where she informed him of the judge’s decision. He admitted, “I didn’t know they were even involved in [IVF]; nobody talks about that.” As he relayed the information, he indicated that he had instructed Britt to “explain IVF” to him “very quickly.”
Trump asserted it took him “two minutes” to grasp the concept of IVF and concluded, “We’re totally in favor of IVF.” While it seemed impossible for him to further undermine public trust in his position on IVF, he somehow managed to do just that. How can a presidential candidate be unaware of IVF up to this year? How can anyone expect him to champion IVF rights when he has shown no familiarity with the issue? Instead of addressing IVF-related inquiries, he resorted to nonsensical claims and dropped hints about how he learned of it to evade demonstrating any real knowledge on the subject.
This incident underscores the prevailing double standards in current political discourse. Republicans have largely overlooked Trump’s shocking admission of ignorance about IVF. Can one imagine the backlash had Kamala Harris or any other politician made a similar claim? The sort of relentless ridicule and criticism would be immense. Yet Trump confidently labels himself the “father of IVF” while openly acknowledging his profound lack of understanding regarding urgent issues as he campaigns for a second presidential term.
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