One of Trump’s Cruelest Sins Was Preying on Families Who Just Want a Child

Trump promised free IVF treatments to desperate families. He lied.

Trump has committed a hell of a lot of sins since stepping into political life. But one in particular that I carry closest to my heart is how he preyed on people who are desperate to have kids—people fighting through the agony of infertility just to grow a family.

It didn’t get the attention it deserved this weekend, but Trump straight-up abandoned his campaign promise to make IVF treatments free for every American. He pitched it during the campaign—something many of us called bullshit on from the start, because it didn’t line up ideologically and felt like a stunt—but the media treated it like a serious, good-faith promise. And apparently, a lot of voters in the middle believed him. People in the suburbs, especially women deeply uneasy with Trump, saw that promise and gave him the benefit of the doubt. It moved votes. It made a difference.

I write this with a heavy heart because I’m thinking about the four miscarriages my wife endured over the past few years. She went through absolute hell to have the one son we do have through IVF. He’s our miracle. We gave him a name that means “gift from God” because that’s what he is to us. And I don’t think anything in my life has wounded me more than what happened during our second pregnancy—when we went in one week and everything looked good, and the next week there was no heartbeat.

His name was Zeke, by the way.

I’ve lost people. I’ve buried family and friends. But nothing compares to that kind of grief. That raw, desperate, powerless grief. And it’s that pain that fuels my rage—because I know how many families are carrying that same grief. And I know how cruel it is for someone like Trump to exploit it for votes, knowing full well he never planned to lift a damn finger.

There are so many Americans for whom the dream is simple: buy a home, start a family, build a life that means something. It’s a beautiful, deeply human dream. We spend so much time talking about identity and what it means to be a Democrat, and for me, nothing defines me more than being a dad. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. It’s a privilege and a joy and a calling.

And no, parenting isn’t for everyone—and that’s okay. But for those of us who want it, who fight for it, who endure years of pain and loss for it? It’s everything. It’s the reason I fight. It’s part of who I am.

So yeah, I’m furious. Because Trump used that dream, that pain, that desperation, and he weaponized it. He lied. He made a promise he never meant to keep. He signed one pathetic, performative executive order, and then he walked away. And when the press pushed him on it, they shrugged. They passed a bloated budget that slashed taxes for billionaires, added $4 trillion to the deficit, kicked 20 million people off their health care, and stripped 18 million kids of school food assistance—and somehow couldn’t find a damn dime to fund the IVF promise he made.

He didn’t even try. That’s how little he thought of the people who believed him. People who were vulnerable. People who were hurting.

And yeah, I know some of you saw through it. You’ll say, “Well, I didn’t believe him.” Fine. I’m not here to go after you. A lot of Americans are just trying to figure out who’s actually going to help them. And to his credit, Trump at least saw those people. He saw their need and made a play for it. In bad faith, sure—but he acknowledged it.

And now? Democrats should pick up that torch. Call out what he did—call it what it was—but don’t stop there. Pick up the cause. Make those people feel seen, heard, and loved. Because I promise you, there are a hell of a lot of Americans feeling the same ache I feel right now.

I’ve got a six-year-old boy at home who lights up my life just by existing. And I know so many people are still waiting for that miracle. They deserve a government that sees them. That fights for them. That doesn’t use their pain to score points and then toss them aside.

This is a chance for Democrats to reclaim the narrative. To remember who we’re supposed to be fighting for—working people, families, people just trying to build something decent out of this life.

Because the American mythos is breaking. Many people don’t believe they’ll ever buy a home. Or raise a family. Or retire with dignity. Let alone take a damn vacation. And those basic hopes—those shared dreams—are what could bring us back together.

Politics can be messy. But at its core, it’s simple: help people live with purpose and dignity.

Trump saw a real need. He dangled a promise. Then he ghosted the people who needed it most. And we can’t let that be the end of the story. We can take that ball and run with it. We can give people something real to believe in again.

And if you’re out there right now—struggling with infertility, feeling betrayed, feeling broken—I see you. I’m thinking about you. I love you.

You’re not alone.