WASHINGTON — In a significant demonstration of their support, President Donald Trump pledged to stand by anti-abortion rights advocates during his upcoming term, coinciding with the annual March for Life in Washington, which drew tens of thousands of participants.
Trump, in a pre-recorded video message, asserted, “We will again stand proudly for families and for life.” For years, demonstrators have gathered in the nation’s capital to advocate for the reversal of Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision that safeguarded the constitutional right to abortion. Following the 2022 overturning of Roe, these advocates now feel a sense of inclusion alongside returning political allies, seeking to capitalize on their wins as Trump prepares for a potential return to the White House with a Republican-majority Congress.
Vice President JD Vance addressed the crowd, claiming, “Our country faces the return of the most pro-family, most pro-life American president of our lifetimes.” He praised Trump for having “delivered on his promise of ending Roe” and noted that the president has appointed numerous judges sympathetic to anti-abortion views.
While the initial actions of Trump’s presidency largely omitted abortion issues, he has since enacted measures, including pardoning several activists advocating for the pro-life cause and employing language related to fetal personhood in an executive order that rescinded protections for transgender individuals.
Despite the chilly weather, the atmosphere remained jubilant, with attendees sporting colorful hats and carrying vibrant signs proclaiming messages such as “Life is our revolution” and “MAGA: Make Abortion Gone Again.”
Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, emphasized the historical significance of this year’s march, stating, “Yes, we have a march every year, but this one is pretty special…There is a trifecta of pro-life Republicans in the White House and the House and the Senate.”
Among the enthusiastic participants was Kristen Cooper, a 21-year-old member of Students for Life America, expressing her excitement to be part of the march in the company of anti-abortion Republicans in power. This marked her fourth march, yet it was her first experience under a Republican administration, which she described as “surreal.”
Anna Henderson, a teacher from a Catholic high school in Jackson, Michigan, attended her fourth march alongside her students. She reminded the crowd, “Just because we have the backing of the administration doesn’t mean the fight is over. We still need to change people’s hearts.”
Kristan Hawkins, the president of Students for Life of America, pointed out ongoing objectives, urging Trump to defund Planned Parenthood and to implement resources such as paid family leave for women facing unplanned pregnancies. “The march now ends on the backside of the U.S. Capitol to remind our representatives that abortion is not only a state issue but also a local issue and a federal issue,” she stated.
Angela Vasquez-Giroux, vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood Action Fund, which advocates for abortion rights, cautioned, “We know exactly what is at risk, and we know the hate and lies they will spew at the March for Life.”
Since the 2022 Supreme Court ruling, the abortion debate has shifted to state courts and ballot initiatives, with voters in seven states approving amendments aimed at protecting reproductive freedoms in the November elections. Legislators have already begun introducing proposals that could complicate future reproductive rights measures.
During the March for Life event, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis highlighted the 2024 defeat of an abortion rights amendment, boasting about his influence on the state-funded campaign opposing it. He noted that despite voter support for a constitutional amendment overturning a six-week abortion ban, Florida’s requirement for a 60% majority complicates such initiatives. “Most elected officials will say ‘Look, what’s on the ballot is not their issue — the people can decide,'” he observed.
Abortion rights supporters also made their voices heard. Ryan Stitzlein, with the national organization Reproductive Freedom for All, criticized those opposing abortion rights, stating, “Each time one of these has taken place since the Dobbs decision, it’s been a day to reflect on how much damage that’s been caused by that decision and the crisis we continue to live in.”
Ellie Smeal, founder and president of the Feminist Majority Foundation, announced plans for counterprotest, affirming the group’s commitment to advocate for reproductive rights. “We want to remind people of the popularity of abortion rights and the importance of this issue, that women and men are supportive of people making their own reproductive health decisions,” she asserted.
