The Corner

When Trump Mentioned IVF at the State of the Union, He Said More Than He Intended

Share this story

President Donald Trump delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., February 24, 2026.

Kenny Holston/Pool via Reuters

Once again, for anyone in the back who couldn’t hear: The Republican Party is not pro-life.

It was notable — maybe even once again instructive — that the president’s only mention of so-called reproductive health-care issues during Tuesday’s State of the Union address was about his promise to make in vitro fertilization more affordable. His administration is not oblivious to people’s moral concerns. (I know this for a fact.) It also is not ignorant of the scientific reality (this, too, I know): IVF is not as successful as it’s made out to be in his seemingly endless hyping of it (the rollout of the policy press conference in the White House was embarrassingly naïve and obnoxious).

KL

About the Author

Kathryn Jean Lopez

Kathryn Jean Lopez is a senior fellow at the National Review Institute and the religion editor of National Review. Sign up for her weekly newsletter here. She is the author of A Year with the Mystics: Visionary Wisdom for Daily Living.

Comments

Advertisement

Advertisement