The White House has quietly abandoned plans to compel private insurers to cover in vitro fertilization, reversing course on a major campaign promise by President Donald Trump, the Washington Post reported Sunday.
“The White House does not plan to require health insurers to provide coverage for in vitro fertilization services, two people with knowledge of internal discussions said,” per the report.
This marks a sharp departure from the position Trump laid out during the 2024 campaign.
READ MORE: 'Used a broomstick as a weapon': Analyst traces Trump from high school 'bully' to the White House
When running for re‑election, Trump pledged that if he returned to the presidency, either the federal government would finance IVF services or insurance companies would be mandated to cover them.
In October, during a Fox News women‑only town hall in Cumming, Georgia, hosted by Harris Faulkner, Trump unexpectedly declared himself “the father of IVF” as part of a broader pitch that the Republican Party is unequivocally pro‑fertility treatment.
Earlier this year, he signed an executive order directing the White House Domestic Policy Council to devise recommendations within 90 days focused on expanding IVF access and sharply reducing both out‑of‑pocket and health‑plan costs, but did not include any binding requirement for insurance coverage.
Meanwhile, the White House's about-face led to backlash on social media.
Megan Coyne, Vice President at Mercury Public Affairs wrote on the social platform X: "I for one, am shocked that a man who lies about everything and has attacked reproductive freedom for the last decade is doing this."
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill) wrote: "Trump never had a plan to cover IVF. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans blocked our bill to get it done not once — but twice. They want America to have more babies but are doing *nothing* to help families afford that dream. It was all lies the 'Father of IVF' sold to get elected."
Journalist Jeff Stein, who reported The Post story, said on X: "Trump admin is NOT planning to require health insurers to cover IVF, sources say, in retreat from 2024 campaign pledge. Another apparent L from this admin for the conservative natalists."
Journalist David Wiegel wrote: "Even more than his refusal to back a national ban, the 'free IVF' float showed his mastery of the GOP's pro-life wing. They were never going to support this but understood that it could be stopped after he won the election — so just buckle in and win first."
Democratic strategist Mike Nellis wrote: "Trump is backing out of his promise to make IVF free for every woman in America. Just another lie from the most dishonest president in history. Sadly, a lot of people who are struggling to start families believed him — and now they’re left devastated by yet another betrayal."
Nick Gavio, a communications director for the Working Families Party, said: "The media needs to take a step back [and] assess how badly it mismanaged 2024 when every other piece of evidence said otherwise, they completely fell for Trump’s fake IVF promises real 'if someone says it’s raining, you don’t take their word for it, you look out the window' moment."
Democratic strategist Ameshia Cross wrote: "Remember when Trump said he was the father of IVF...all of the women who voted for him in hopes of affordable or free IVF got played. Most insurers never wanted to cover it AND its a big money industry with women either going into debt to afford it or spending $$$ upfront."
"Half of Trump's campaign promises were lies that everyone believed and the other half were truths that nobody believed," wrote a user.
AlterNet reached out to the White House for comment.