At a Michigan campaign rally this week, former President Trump announced that if elected to a second term, he would mandate free in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment for women.

“I’m announcing today in a major statement that 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,” Trump told the crowd at Alro Steel in Potterville, Michigan. “Because we want more babies, to put it nicely.”

Trump emphasized that the government or insurance companies would cover all associated costs.

“And for the same reason, we will also allow new parents to deduct major newborn expenses from their taxes,” Trump said.  

IVF is known for being expensive, often costing tens of thousands of dollars per round, with no guaranteed success.

Earlier this year, Trump urged the Alabama legislature to preserve access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) after the state’s Supreme Court ruled last week that frozen embryos are children.

“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 in a social media post at the time.

“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.”