Harris campaign slams Trump’s IVF plan: ‘Thinks women are stupid’

The Harris campaign slammed former President Donald Trump’s proposal to require the federal government or insurance companies to cover the cost of in vitro fertilization. 

In a conference call with reporters Friday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Harris campaign proxy, told reporters that the plan was Mr. Trump’s attempt to hide from his record on reproductive rights.

“Trump’s latest campaign promise is just smoke and mirrors,” the Massachusetts Democrat said, adding that 40% of women in the United States live under an abortion ban. “If Donald Trump and J.D. Vance are in the White House, it won’t just be 40%. It will be 100% of women.”

Speaking on Thursday, Mr. Trump said he would establish a tax deduction for new parents to help them afford the cost of having a child.

“Under the Trump administration, your government will pay for, or your insurance company will be mandated to pay for, all costs associated with IVF treatment — fertilization for women because we want more babies, to put it very nicely,” he said at a campaign rally in Michigan. “We are going to pay for it, and it will help families.” 

Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign has made abortion access the centerpiece of her election message. She and her surrogates have repeatedly hammered Mr. Trump and other Republicans over abortion restrictions.

When the Alabama Supreme Court last year ruled that frozen embryos can be considered children under state law, halting IVF procedures, Democrats immediately tied the ruling to Mr. Trump even though he blasted the court decision.

Ms. Warren said the latest proposal won’t reverse Mr. Trump’s record on abortion, which includes appointing three Supreme Court justices who ruled to overturn Roe v. Wade.

“Trump thinks women are stupid and that we can be gaslighted,” Ms. Warren said. “He seems to believe that he can do one thing when he talks to his extremist base and then turn around and smile at the overwhelming majority of Americans who want to see access to abortion and IVF protected and lie about it and will believe it. That’s not happening.”

In a move to underscore her support for abortion access, Ms. Harris is launching a bus tour focused on the issue. The bus will make 50 stops in red, blue and battleground states between next week and Election Day, Nov. 5.