Key Takeaways:
- Ryleigh Cooper, a young federal worker, voted for Trump due to promises of lower living costs and free IVF.
- After the election, she lost her job, losing health insurance and future planning for her children.
- Trump’s IVF plan wasn’t free, leaving Cooper feeling betrayed.
- Her story highlights the impact of broken political promises on ordinary workers.
A Young Worker’s Decision
Ryleigh Cooper, a 24-year-old from rural Michigan, faced a tough choice during the 2024 presidential election. She worked for the federal government, earning $40,000 a year, and loved her job in forestry. Ryleigh and her husband dreamed of starting a family, but the high cost of IVF made it difficult.
Promises and Hope
During his campaign, Trump promised to make IVF free. Ryleigh saw this promise on TikTok and believed it. She also trusted Trump when he said he wouldn’t cut federal jobs under Project 2025, a plan to reduce the federal workforce.
For 15 minutes, Ryleigh stared at her ballot, thinking about the child she wanted. She decided to vote for Trump, hoping he would keep his promises.
Broken Promises
Three months after the election, Ryleigh’s world crumbled. Trump, along with Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, began cutting federal jobs. Ryleigh was fired, losing her health insurance and the maternity leave she needed.
She learned about Trump’s new IVF plan four days after losing her job. But the plan wasn’t free, and Ryleigh was now unemployed.
A Hard Lesson
When Ryleigh read the White House announcement about IVF, she felt betrayed. The headline said, “Delivering on promises for American families,” but Ryleigh thought, “That’s bulls—.”
Her story shows the real-life impact of broken political promises. Ryleigh learned a hard lesson: always verify what politicians promise.