Donald Trump will become the first U.S. president to appear in person at the March for Life Friday when he addresses the annual event that draws tens of thousands annually and seeks an end to abortion.
Although past presidents have spoken to the March for Life via telephone – Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush did that – none have ever appeared live at the rally. Trump delivered a video address to the crowd in 2019.
It is held every January in Washington, D.C.
“We are deeply honored to welcome President Trump to the 47th annual March for Life,” Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life, said in a statement on the organization’s website. “He will be the first president in history to attend and we are so excited for him to experience in person how passionate our marchers are about life and protecting the unborn.
“From the appointment of pro-life judges and federal workers, to cutting taxpayer funding for abortions here and abroad, to calling for an end to late-term abortions, President Trump and his Administration have been consistent champions for life and their support for the March for Life has been unwavering. We are grateful for all these pro-life accomplishments and look forward to gaining more victories for life in the future.”
The March for Life is honored to announce @realDonaldTrump will be the first U.S. President to speak at the March for Life Rally. Thank you, President Trump, for being a voice for the unborn and continuously working to build a culture of life. https://t.co/lojZssLeim
— March for Life (@March_for_Life) January 22, 2020
The announcement briefly took down March for Life’s website due to a surge in traffic.
President Trump, in his own Tweet about the event, posted a link to a March for Life Tweet with the message, “See you on Friday ... Big Crowd!”
See you on Friday...Big Crowd! https://t.co/MFyWLG4HFZ
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2020
The march brings together women and men of every background to march for the unborn. The March for Life website says, “We promote the beauty and dignity of every human life by working to end abortion – uniting, educating, and mobilizing pro-life people in the public square.”
The announcement came the same week Trump proclaimed Jan. 22 (the anniversary of Roe v. Wade) as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. The 650-word proclamation says “every person — the born and unborn, the poor, the downcast, the disabled, the infirm, and the elderly — has inherent value.”
“As a Nation, we must remain steadfastly dedicated to the profound truth that all life is a gift from God, who endows every person with immeasurable worth and potential,” the proclamation says. “... Today, I call on the Congress to join me in protecting and defending the dignity of every human life, including those not yet born. I call on the American people to continue to care for women in unexpected pregnancies and to support adoption and foster care in a more meaningful way, so every child can have a loving home. And finally, I ask every citizen of this great Nation to listen to the sound of silence caused by a generation lost to us, and then to raise their voices for all affected by abortion, both seen and unseen.”
Related:
Most Americans Want Politicians Who Support 'Substantial Abortion Restrictions,' New Poll Finds
Pro-Life Group Pledges $52 Million to Re-Elect Trump, ‘the Most Pro-Life President’ in History
‘I’m Pro-Life’ -- Iowa’s Female Gov. Supports Amendment Protecting the Unborn
Neb. Gov. Declares ‘Day of Prayer’ to End Abortion on Roe Anniversary
Planned Parenthood Reports Record 345,672 Abortions -- ‘Abortion Is its Mission’
Abby Johnson Launches New Pro-Life Pregnancy Resource Helpline
Trump Admin. Urges Supreme Court to Uphold Pro-Life Law, Citing Gosnell ‘Atrocities’
Democrats’ ‘Medicare for All’ Bills Would Legalize Taxpayer-Funded Abortion
Despite Popular Belief, Women Are More Pro-Life than Men, Gallup Poll Says
Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, MichaelFoust.com.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Win McNamee/Staff
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
