Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump called himself the “father of in vitro fertilization” during a community meeting for women on Wednesday, in an effort to convince this crucial bloc of voters that he can be trusted on reproductive issues.
Trump, who trails Democrat Kamala Harris in popularity among women, suggested he was eager to discuss the issue at a women-only event hosted by Fox News in Georgia. The state is one of the few that will likely decide the election.
“I want to talk about in vitro fertilization (IVF). I’m the father of IVF, so I want to hear that question,” Trump said.
Sensing that some women were concerned about possible restrictions on fertility treatments, Trump highlighted his party’s support for the procedure, even as some conservative Republicans oppose in vitro fertilization.
Republican senators have twice in recent months blocked Democratic-led legislation to protect access to in vitro fertilization. Some Republicans have argued that the legislation would not be necessary because access to IVF is not at risk.
“We really are the party of IVF,” Trump said. “We want fertilization in every sense, and the Democrats have tried to attack us on this, but we are ahead of them on IVF.”
IVF became a contentious election issue after the conservative Alabama Supreme Court ruled in February that embryos are babies.
This decision has left the landscape uncertain as to how to legally store, transport and use embryos. Some IVF patients have considered transferring their frozen embryos out of state.
Republicans across the country have struggled to quell the backlash stemming from that decision, while Democrats have warned that more reproductive rights could be at risk.
Trump’s campaign described his “father of IVF” comment as a joke.
“It was a joke that President Trump made in a good-natured way while enthusiastically answering a question about IVF, as he strongly supports widespread access to fertility treatments for women and families,” spokeswoman Karoline said Leavitt.
Democrat Kamala Harris, asked about Trump’s comments, told people not to be “distracted by his choice of words.”
“The fact is that his actions have been very harmful to women and families in the United States on this issue,” Kamala told reporters.
According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released this week, 49% of women registered to vote support Harris, while 40% support Trump.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
