WASHINGTON — One day after House Republicans passed a bill to ensure a child born alive during an attempted abortion is kept alive, President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and GOP congressional leaders appeared at the annual March for Life in Washington to express their support for an anti-abortion agenda.
“In my second term, we will again stand proudly for families and for life,” Trump said in a prerecorded video message that played during the 52nd annual rally. “We will protect the historic gains we have made and stop the radical Democratic push for a federal right to unlimited abortion on demand up to the moment of birth and even after birth.”
He said his administration will support adoption and leverage the U.S. Justice Department to “finally investigate the radical left attacks on churches and crisis pregnancy centers.”
He also trumpeted his pardon on Thursday of nearly two dozen anti-abortion activists who had been convicted of blockading abortion clinic entrances.
“Never again will religious persecution be allowed to happen in America to all of the very special people marching today in this bitter cold,” he said.
Tthe March for Life began in 1973 — the same year Roe v. Wade granted women the right to an abortion. That law was reversed in 2022 when the Supreme Court ruled the Constitution does not explicitly protect that right.
Themed “Life: Why We March,” this year’s event was a veritable who’s who of GOP support for the cause. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and Sens. Joni Ernst of Iowa, Katie Britt of Alabama and Pete Ricketts of Nebraska were all in attendance, along with nine members of the House of Representatives, including Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana.
“This new White House has already shown its resolve,” Johnson said, praising Trump’s pardon of anti-abortion activists and pointing out his executive order on gender from Thursday that defines life as beginning at conception rather than birth.
“Let’s keep working to ensure that our eyes are open, that more people will embrace the timeless truths that all children will be allowed the incomparable gift of being born,” he said.
In his first public appearance since being sworn in as vice president Monday, Vance capped off the nearly two-hour event.
“I want more babies in the United States of America,” he said to cheers from the crowd. “I want more happy children in our country, and I want beautiful young men and women who are eager to welcome them into the world and eager to raise them.”
He said it was the task of the government to make it easier for young families to be able to have children. He cited Trump’s record during his first term, which included paving the way for ending Roe v. Wade, appointing hundreds of anti-abortion judges and doubling the child tax credit.
“We’re going to do so much more in the second administration,” Vance said. “He’s back, and we’re going to do it again.”
