Pete Buttigieg just gave Democrats a suggestion that might raise a few eyebrows in his own party—borrow a page straight from Donald Trump’s campaign platform.
Speaking on Pod Save America Sunday, the former transportation secretary said it would be “good policy” for Democrats to embrace Trump’s pledge to require insurance coverage for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other fertility treatments.
“If we’re really serious about being pro-family,” Buttigieg said, “then we need to make sure that we support that… whether it’s a system of direct government support or ensuring it’s part of private healthcare coverage.”
Buttigieg also acknowledged the awkwardness of praising a Trump proposal, noting that “the right has been weird about it,” but argued there’s no reason to dismiss policies that help people start families simply because they come from across the aisle. “Especially,” he added, “if the reason they’re not doing it is artificial issues around cost or access to care.”
The conversation was sparked by co-host Jon Favreau citing a Washington Post report accusing Trump of failing to deliver on his IVF coverage promise during his second term. The headline read: “White House has no plan to mandate IVF care, despite campaign pledge.”
The Trump White House pushed back, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson telling the Post the president’s efforts were ongoing and that no administration had been more committed to expanding IVF access.
In February, Trump signed an executive order directing the Domestic Policy Council to explore ways to reduce out-of-pocket costs for IVF and related treatments, positioning it as part of his “pro-family” agenda.
Buttigieg’s endorsement of the idea comes as he’s been increasingly vocal about what he sees as his party’s messaging missteps. Earlier this year, he took aim at Democrats’ obsession with performative diversity training, quipping that some of it looked “like something out of Portlandia” and warning that such exercises could help “make Trump Republicans.”
By backing a Trump-originated policy, Buttigieg is effectively challenging his party to break from reflexive partisanship and claim common ground on an issue that has cross-party appeal.
