Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said Sunday that Democrats should consider adopting former President Donald Trump’s campaign pledge to require insurance companies to cover in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other fertility treatments.
Speaking on the podcast Pod Save America, co-host Jon Favreau asked whether Democrats should run on Trump’s promise.
“I think it’s good policy,” Buttigieg replied. “If we’re really serious about being pro-family, then we need to make sure that we support that. And that means making sure—whether it’s a system of direct government support or ensuring that it’s part of private healthcare coverage—that people can access these treatments.”
Buttigieg added that Democrats should not dismiss the idea simply because it originated from a Republican candidate. “I think the right has been weird about it, but I don’t think we should scoff at those who are interested in making sure that we encourage more people to be able to start families and have more kids if they want to—especially if the reason they’re not doing it is artificial issues around cost or access to care.”
Favreau noted that a Washington Post report earlier this year criticized Trump for failing to fully deliver on his IVF promise during his second term. The article, headlined “White House has no plan to mandate IVF care, despite campaign pledge”, said no comprehensive mandate had been enacted.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told the paper that Trump’s efforts were ongoing. “President Trump pledged to expand access to fertility treatments for Americans who are struggling to start families,” Jackson said. “The administration is committed like none before to using its authorities to deliver on this pledge.”
In February, Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing out-of-pocket costs for IVF and other fertility treatments. The order instructed the Domestic Policy Council to explore ways to make such care more affordable.
Since the 2024 election, Buttigieg has openly criticized Democrats’ political strategy, warning that an excessive focus on performative diversity measures could alienate voters. Speaking at a February forum, he questioned whether diversity initiatives were about “caring for people’s different experiences and making sure no one is mistreated”—which he supports—or about “making people sit through a training that looks like something out of Portlandia,” which he has personally experienced.
“And it is how Trump Republicans are made,” Buttigieg remarked.