Republicans are sharply criticizing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) for allegedly making misleading statements about the fertility treatment he and his wife used, accusing the vice presidential nominee of dishonesty for political gain.
Earlier this week, Gwen Walz, the governor’s wife, clarified that they had opted for intrauterine insemination (IUI) to address infertility, not in vitro fertilization (IVF) as previously implied by the governor’s statements.
“It’s just such a bizarre thing to lie about, right?” the Republican vice presidential nominee, JD Vance, told reporters Wednesday. “There’s nothing wrong with having a baby through IVF or not having a baby through IVF. Like, why lie about it? I just don’t understand that.”
This correction comes after Tim Walz had frequently mentioned using treatments “like IVF” while accusing Republicans of attempting to restrict access to such services. In some instances, he had even been more direct in his references.
The Harris-Walz campaign defended the governor, stating that he used more familiar language because IUI is a lesser-known procedure. However, conservatives argue that Walz was deliberately misleading the public to bolster his political narrative.
“This is the kind of lie that sticks in voters’ minds. It’s weird, and makes people think they can’t trust anything Walz says, especially after his misrepresentations of his military service have drawn so much attention,” GOP strategist Matt Wolking said.