SALT LAKE CITY — President Donald Trump became the first sitting president to attend the March for Life in Washington, where he addressed thousands at the anti-abortion rights protest Friday, with Sen. Mike Lee of Utah looking over his shoulder. But the president’s address quickly became a stump speech.
Trump walked out to chants of “Four more years” from crowds of protesters who had gathered at the National Mall. Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” played on the public address system. “It is my profound honor to be the first president in history to attend the March for Life,” he said.
Lee, who is reportedly playing a key role in the president’s impeachment defense strategy, stood directly behind Trump — who thanked him and other politicians for attending the protest before Friday’s session in the Senate impeachment trial. Lee is also now chairman of Trump’s reelection campaign in Utah.
Speaking to protesters in red “Make America Great Again” hats and purple “March for Life” beanies, Trump said the crowd had traveled to the capital for a simple reason, “to defend the right of every child, born and unborn, to fulfill their God-given potential.” God and divinity were a reoccurring theme in the president’s speech.
But the address quickly turned to the president’s reelection. He first touted his appointment of two right leaning Supreme Court judges before attacking the opposition on religious freedom and abortion.
“Sadly the far left is actively working to erase our God-given rights, shut down faith-based charities, ban religious believers from the public square and silence Americans who believe in the sanctity of life,” the president said.
What is the March for Life?
The National March for Life is a protest held annually in Washington, D.C., against the Supreme Court’s Jan. 22, 1973, Roe v. Wade decision to protect women’s right to access abortion.
“Every year, tens of thousands of pro-lifers converge on the National Mall and march on Capitol Hill on the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling which legalized abortion in all 50 states,” according to march organizers.
The first National March for Life took place on Jan. 22, 1974, on the first anniversary of court’s 7-2 decision in Roe v. Wade.
Do presidents normally attend the rally?
Not really. Trump is the first president to attend the march in person, but others — Republicans — have phoned in their support.
Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush each decided it was enough to call in to the rally to support their constituents. Trump announced on Twitter — his preferred method of communicating with the public — that he would attend the march earlier this week.
Last year, Vice President Mike Pence attended the rally.