US Presidential Election 2024: Donald Trump Declares Himself ‘Father of IVF’ at Fox News’ All-Women Town Hall, Kamala Harris Fires Back

At a Fox News town hall in Georgia, a key swing state focused on women’s issues, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump78, called himself the “father of IVF” (in vitro fertilization), a claim that has led to confusion about his position on reproductive rights.

Reproductive rights have become a key issue for American voters. During the first presidential debateDemocratic candidate Kamala Harris59, exchanged sharp barbs with Donald Trump on abortion and reproductive rights.

IVF, a fertility treatment that helps couples conceive, has since come under scrutiny The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022which has led to legal and political clashes over reproductive health care.

“We are really the party for IVF. We want conception, and it’s totally, and the Democrats tried to attack us on it, and we’re there on IVF, even more than them,” Trump said at the event, CNN reported.

However, it remains unclear how Trump plans to support IVF, especially given the legal threats against it in conservative states.

Democrats, led by Vice President Kamala Harris, quickly moved to X to criticize Trump.

“Donald Trump called himself ‘the father of IVF’. What is he talking about?”

“His abortion bans have already jeopardized access to them in states across the country — and his own platform could end IVF altogether,” she added.

The Alabama Supreme Court ruled this earlier this year Frozen embryos should be considered childrenmeaning those who destroy them could be liable for wrongful death. The ruling raised concerns that access to IVF could be at risk, with fears that doctors could refuse to perform the procedure and costs would rise, CNN reported.

In response to the Alabama ruling, Trump promised to make IVF free for all, but did not clarify how it would be financed.

Meanwhile, Democrats in the Senate have proposed legislation to protect access to IVF nationwide, but Republicans blocked the bill, saying it is not necessary, CNN reported.

During the town hall, Trump also discussed the controversial issue of abortion. He criticized some states’ abortion laws as “too strict,” adding that those laws would be reviewed.

However, Trump reaffirmed his belief that the right to abortion should be left to individual states and expressed support for exceptions in cases of rape, incest or danger to the mother’s life.

Trump’s position on abortion has often been unclear, but he recently said it was would veto any federal abortion ban.

His running mate, Senator J.D. Vancerecognized that Republicans face challenges in this area, and emphasized the need to regain public trust.