Former President Donald Trump called on the Alabama legislature to preserve access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) on Friday after the state’s Supreme Court ruled earlier this week that frozen embryos are children.
Trump posted a lengthy statement on Truth Social Friday afternoon, saying that the Republican Party will always support families pursuing life, which he said includes couples seeking fertility treatments such as IVF.
“Under my leadership, the Republican Party will always support the creation of strong, thriving, healthy American families. We want to make it easier for mothers and fathers to have babies, not harder! That includes supporting the availability of fertility treatments like IVF in every State in America,” Trump wrote. “Like the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of Americans, including the VAST MAJORITY of Republicans, Conservatives, Christians, and Pro-Life Americans, I strongly support the availability of IVF for couples who are trying to have a precious baby. Today, I am calling on the Alabama Legislature to act quickly to find an immediate solution to preserve the availability of IVF in Alabama.”
The Alabama Supreme Court ruled 8-1, saying that frozen embryos are protected by the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act because the law protects all children regardless of their location. The ruling came after three couples sued the Center for Reproductive Medicine in Mobile after five frozen embryos from the couples were accidentally destroyed. They sued for wrongful death after the embryos were dropped after being moved out of one part of the clinic.
Chief Justice Tom Parker referenced several books from the Bible including Genesis, Exodus, and Jeremiah in his concurring opinion, and he also cited thinkers like William Blackstone, Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin, and Petrus Van Mastricht.
“All three branches of government are subject to a constitutional mandate to treat each unborn human life with reverence. Carving out an exception for the people in this case, small as they were, would be unacceptable to the People of this State, who have required us to treat every human being in accordance with the fear of a holy God who made them in His image,” Parker wrote.
Controversy erupted after the ruling as President Joe Biden called it “outrageous and unacceptable” and said the Alabama decision was a “direct result” of the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade and Trump’s pro-life policies. Multiple clinics in the state paused their IVF services following the decision, including the clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Trump argued in his statement that the “Republican Party should always be on the side of the Miracle of Life – and the side of Mothers, Fathers, and their Beautiful Babies.”
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“IVF is an important part of that, and our Great Republican Party will always be with you, in your quest, for the ULTIMATE JOY IN LIFE!” the former president added.
Trump’s comments on IVF followed multiple Trump-endorsed Republican Senate candidates coming out with statements defending the practice.
“IVF is a ray of hope for millions of Americans seeking the blessing of children. I oppose any effort to restrict it,” Pennsylvania Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick posted.
“One in six Americans struggle with fertility issues. In the Senate, I will advocate for increased access to fertility treatment for women struggling to get pregnant,” Arizona GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake said. “IVF is extremely important for helping countless families experience the joy of parenthood. I oppose restrictions.”
“My goal is to promote a culture of life. IVF is a vital tool for families that struggle with infertility,” said Ohio Republican Senate candidate Bernie Moreno. “We have a crisis in this country of people not having enough kids at replacement levels. I’m in favor of anything that promotes people having more babies & strong families.”
Leif Le Mahieu contributed to this report.