Massachusetts governor calls Trump's IVF proposal 'offensive'
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) on Sunday poured cold water over the legitimacy of former President Trump's proposal to have the government or insurance companies cover in vitro fertilization (IVF), stating voters cannot "believe anything" he says on reproductive issues.
"You can't take this seriously. I mean, this isn't just a Republican — and by the way, I work well with Republicans — this is Donald Trump, who will say anything and everything depending on where the wind is blowing," Healey said on CBS News's "Face the Nation." "He caught some heat the other day, you know, and so he comes out with a statement that, all of a sudden, he's a believer in IVF. It's just patently false, it's offensive."
Trump said Thursday his administration would protect access to IVF and have either the government or insurance companies pay for the treatment if he’s elected in November.
"Under the Trump administration, we are going to be paying for that treatment,” he said in an exclusive interview with NBC News, adding that would apply to “all Americans who get it; all Americans who need it.”
“So, we’re going to be paying for that treatment, or we’re going to be mandating that the insurance companies pay,” he added.
Although Republicans have not directly opposed IVF access, Democrats say Trump and his party made it possible for the Alabama Supreme Court ruling in February that frozen embryos could be considered the same as children, and therefore discarding them could be criminal. The ruling temporarily halted IVF services for many patients in Alabama.
"First of all, don't believe anything that Donald Trump says," Healey said. "You know, as attorney general, I had to sue him over 100 times for his lies. And as governor, I've seen the very real difference between a Trump administration and an administration that will have Kamala Harris when it to health, women's health, reproductive freedom. There can be no clear a difference in this election, Kamala Harris stands squarely for reproductive freedom."
She later said Vice President Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), are "out there day after day on offense," on the issue.
"And they're not just talking to Democrats; they're talking to Republicans, to independents, and to so many Americans who are just tuning in this Labor Day and haven't made up their mind about who they're going to vote for, and on issue after issue, protecting the middle class a well-functioning economy, standing up for reproductive freedom. These are all things that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz believe in and will fight for, and things that Donald Trump and [Sen] JD Vance [R-Ohio] don't know the first thing about and cannot deliver on."
IVF has been a central concern for political figures and voters alike in the past year, especially following the Alabama Supreme Court decision.
The former president has repeatedly been blamed by Democrats for the reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022, after he appointed three of the justices who voted with a 6-3 majority in the landmark decision.
The Trump-Vance campaign, like the larger Republican party ahead of the 2024 election, has largely sought to sidestep issues related to abortion and reproductive rights, given the unpopularity of its anti-abortion agenda among voters since Roe v. Wade was overturned two years ago.
The Hill reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.
Date: | |
Tag: | Donald Trump |
-
The Guardian - World
If Starmer is on a US charm offensive, he must meet Trump as well as Harris | Kim Darroch
The former president remains the likelier winner of the election, and the UK needs a working relationship with whoever is in the White House. In April 1966, according to legend, a chance encounter ...7 hours ago - Donald Trump -
Financial Times - Business
Bank of Canada governor raises prospect of big rate cuts
Tiff Macklem signals central bank will step up pace of reductions should economic conditions worsen8 hours ago -
ESPN - Sports
As Jets look to solve issues at DE, Aaron Rodgers and the offense break out more motion
With Haason Reddick continuing to hold out, the Jets continue to search for an answer at defensive end.53 minutes ago - NFL -
Politico - Politics
New Schmitt, Grassley proposal debuts amid Senate GOP rules change fight
2 days ago -
ABC News - Top stories
What the 911 calls in Georgia high school shooting reveal
The emergency dispatch center that received active shooter reports from a Georgia high school was overwhelmed with 911 calls as the situation unfolded.12 hours ago -
Yahoo News - World
India’s Delhi Chief Says He’ll Quit, Calls For Early Election
3 hours ago - India -
Yahoo Sports - Sports
Mets' Luisangel Acuña called up from Triple-A, playing shortstop and batting ninth
Luisangel Acuña joined the Mets on Saturday from Triple-A Syracuse and is starting at shortstop while batting ninth against the Philadelphia Phillies.18 hours ago -
The Hill - Politics
Maher predicts 'it's over' for Trump
Comedian Bill Maher said he thinks former President Trump is going to lose the 2024 presidential election in November on his HBO show on Friday. "Tonight, I'm saying, I think it's over," Bill Maher ...16 hours ago - Donald Trump
More from The Hill
-
The Hill - Politics
Most Americans support these 3 initiatives to prevent school shootings
K-12 school shootings occur far more frequently in the U.S. than in any other country.43 minutes ago -
The Hill - Politics
Houthi missile hits open area in central Israel
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels fired a missile from Yemen that appeared to hit an open area of central Israel, and Israel signaled it would respond to the attack, The Associated Press reported, ...49 minutes ago - Israel -
The Hill - Politics
Bolton says Harris’s foreign policy would be ‘like four more years of Biden’
Former national security adviser John Bolton said he thinks Vice President Harris’s foreign policy if she is elected would be “like four more years” of President Biden’s policies. Bolton joined ...1 hour ago - Joe Biden -
The Hill - Politics
How Georgia’s election could deliver a major blow to Putin — or the US
The country of Georgia is headed to a pivotal election at the end of October, a contest the U.S. and pro-democracy forces see as the last chance to stand up to aspiring autocrats inspired by ...2 hours ago -
The Hill - Politics
Joint organizations release resource promoting election integrity
A group of five organizations said in a press release Sunday that they are releasing “a resource with specific steps government leaders and democracy advocates can take to help strengthen democracy ...2 hours ago