Trump says he supports IVF and calls for treatment to remain legal

Former President Donald J. Trump broke his silence Friday on the Alabama Supreme Court’s declaration that frozen embryos are entitled to legal protections, distancing himself from staunch abortion opponents by calling on the state legislature to “act quickly” to protect in vitro fertilization treatments. which he said should remain legal in every state.

The comments, after days of silence on the subject, come as he tries to limit damage from the ruling, which has highlighted the division in the Republican Party between those who say life begins at conception and those who support reproductive services such as IVF want to protect.

“We want to make it easier for moms and dads to have babies, not harder! That includes supporting the availability of fertility treatments like IVF in every state of America,” Trump said in a statement on his social media website.

This week’s ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court has sparked a new round of backlash from Republicans from a broad spectrum of Americans who support the use of IVF treatments, in which multiple eggs are fertilized in the hope that one embryo can be successfully created. implanted. future parents who have difficulty conceiving.

Democrats, led by President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, have attacked the decision as the inevitable consequence of the Supreme Court’s repeal of Roe v. Wade, which they say Mr. Trump is responsible for since he appointed judges who opposed constitutional be protection. for abortion.

But Trump’s remaining Republican opponent for the party’s presidential nomination, Nikki Haley, gave the former president an important opening when she told NBC News she agreed with the decision in Alabama. Both candidates have tried to appear more moderate on abortion, given the strength of abortion rights in recent elections.

“The Republican Party must always be on the side of the Miracle of Life – and on the side of Mothers, Fathers and their Beautiful Babies,” Trump wrote. “IVF is an important part of that.”