GOP senator questions how Trump’s IVF proposal would be funded

Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin (Okla.) questioned how former President Trump’s proposal for in vitro fertilization (IVF) would be funded.

Mullin was questioned Friday by CNN’s Manu Raju about Trump’s claim that his administration would protect IVF access and his plan to have either the government or insurance companies pay for the treatment if he’s reelected.

“I haven’t talked to him all the way through with it,” Mullin said. “I think there’s … going to be an issue on how you pay for it. There’s always that issue.”

In an interview with NBC News, Trump said Thursday that his administration would pay
for that treatment,” referring to IVF, which has become highly politicized following an Alabama Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that temporarily halted treatments.

The former president did not expand on how the mandate would look.

Vice President Harris’s campaign has attacked Trump for the comment, calling it “one of his most brazen lies yet.”

Infertility remains a common problem among Americans, and many insurance companies or employers don’t cover the costs.

Harris’s running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), and his wife, Gwen, have been open about their IVF journey and criticized Trump for comments about family planning.

Mullin is a father to six children. He said Friday it took him and his wife seven years to have their first child. Three of his children were adopted, he said.

“I will tell you, it’s tough on every family. Any family that’s went through issues or trying to get pregnant, they know that that’s not just tough on the person trying to get pregnant, but it’s tough on the family. It’s tough on the marriage,” he said.

Mullin redirected the argument toward Democrats’ attacks on Republicans over IVF. He said most Republicans are of the mindset that “anytime we can bring more babies into the world” it’s a good thing.

“We’ve always been for bringing more babies into this world. Always. That position hasn’t ever changed, that’s why we’re pro-life,” Mullin said. “But we’re getting distracted by this and we’re not talking about the real issues facing this country because for some reason, the left has … tried to put a narrative out there that Republicans aren’t for IVF or are not for fertilization treatment. That’s absolutely not true.”

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