Front Page

Donald Trump Becomes First US President to Attend March for Life

Image source The Blue Diamond Gallery

Donald Trump has become the first US president to attend the March for Life, America’s largest annual anti-abortion rally.

The president addressed thousands of protesters at the annual demonstration near the Capitol where his impeachment trial is ongoing.

He said: “We’re here for a very simple reason: to defend the right of every child born and unborn to fulfill their God-given potential.”

The March for Life first began in 1974 – a year after the Supreme Court legalized abortion in Roe v Wade.

Until now no president had ever attended the rally, which takes place just steps from the White House, though previous Republican presidents, including George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, have addressed the group remotely.

Mike Pence became the first sitting vice-president to attend the rally in 2017.

Iowa Approves Toughest Abortion Bill in US

Donald Trump: “Abortion Laws Should Remain Unchanged”

Donald Trump Reverses His Position on Abortion Punishment

President Trump’s appearance at the 47th March for Life delighted protesters.

Voters who support limiting abortion make up a key constituency for President Trump, who is seeking their support at the polls again in the 2020 election.

On January 24, marchers in Washington shouted “four more years” and “we love you”.

On the streets surrounding the National Mall vendors selling Trump flags and Make America Great Again hats were aplenty. Many of the attendees sported pro-Trump merchandise, though for some, there was a distinction between liking the president and liking his anti-abortion stance.

President Trump’s appearance on January 24 has already made a difference for some voters.

In 2016, 81% of Evangelical voters – a group for whom abortion is the biggest political issue – backed Donald Trump for president. He has continued to court them as his re-election campaign ramps up.

March for Life president Jeanne Mancini said President Trump and his administration “have been consistent champions for life”.

However, pro-choice groups said his appearance was a distraction tactic.

Ilyse Hogue, the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said it was “a desperate attempt to divert attention from his criminal presidency and fire up his radical base”.

America’s two main political parties are more polarized than ever on the issue of abortion.

Democrats campaigning for November’s White House election are unapologetically pro-choice – something many March for Life attendees said made the candidates inaccessible to anti-abortion supporters, even if they disliked President Trump.

In 2016, the Democratic Party for the first time included in its platform a call to repeal the Hyde Amendment, a decades-old law that prohibits using taxpayer money for abortions.

In 2019, leading White House contender Joe Biden was sharply criticized by his Democratic rivals for initially backing the Hyde Amendment. Amid uproar from the party’s liberal base, he reversed course in June.

Donald Trump, meanwhile, has bolstered support for anti-abortion views within the GOP.

Diane A. Wade

Diane is a perfectionist. She enjoys searching the internet for the hottest events from around the world and writing an article about it. The details matter to her, so she makes sure the information is easy to read and understand. She likes traveling and history, especially ancient history. Being a very sociable person she has a blast having barbeque with family and friends.

Recent Posts

Donald Trump and Elon Musk Celebrate Election Victory at UFC 309

Image source: Wikimedia Commons President-elect Donald Trump celebrated his election victory at the Ultimate Fighting…

4 days ago

White House 2024: Donald Trump Wins, Kamala Harris Calls Him to Concede Election

Millions of voters across the US chose to return Donald Trump to the White House…

2 weeks ago

Who Won? Donald Trump Declares Victory as He Addresses Jubilant Supporters in Florida

Donald Trump declares victory in the US election as he addresses jubilant supporters in Florida.…

2 weeks ago

Stocks Soaring as Donald Trump Closes in on US Victory

Stocks around the world are rising as Donald Trump appears to be on the cusp…

2 weeks ago

Who Won? Kamala Harris Cancels Election Night Party as Path to Victory Narrows

Donald Trump has won Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia and taken a lead over Kamala…

2 weeks ago

Quincy Jones Dead at 91

Quincy Jones, the celebrated musician and producer who worked with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Ray…

2 weeks ago