When President Trump addressed the 47th annual March for Life on Friday afternoon, he presented himself as a “voice for the voiceless.”
“Unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House,” he announced.
Before the president spoke, Vice President Mike Pence greeted the crowd in a recorded video, saying, “I couldn’t be more proud to serve as vice president to the most pro-life president in American history.”
The line that Trump is the “most pro-life president in history” has been oft-repeated, particularly after he announced that he would be the first president ever to attend the march. But is he the most pro-life president ever? Does it matter?
Either way, Trump hopes to turn the pro-life cause into a winning issue with evangelicals. In Trump’s speech, he relied heavily on religious language about the sanctity of life.
“All of us here today understand an eternal truth: Every child is a precious and sacred gift from God,” he said. “When we see the image of a baby in the womb, we glimpse the majesty of God’s creation.”
Trump has been fishing for evangelical support, which helped send him to the White House in 2016. His words, as well as his actions, on pro-life issues will help.
During his time as president, Trump has expanded the Mexico City Policy, which prevents foreign aid from funding abortions, and has allowed Title X funds to be directed away from Planned Parenthood.
“From the first day in office,” Trump said during his speech, “I’ve taken historic action to support America’s families and protect the unborn.”
While the assertion that “mothers are heroes” may ring hollow coming out of the mouth of a serial philanderer, Trump’s pro-life record places him in stark contrast with the other 2020 candidates. Moments after Trump began speaking, Bernie Sanders tweeted, “Abortion is health care.”
Anticipating backlash like this, Trump said during his speech, “Sadly, the far-Left is actively working to erase our God-given rights … and silence Americans who believe in the sanctity of life.”
“They are coming after me,” he claimed, “because I’m fighting for you.”
Not every pro-life advocate is a fan of Trump, but when he addresses the issues of pro-life speech being squelched on campuses, late-term abortion — “What is going on in Virginia?” — and the sidelining of the pro-life cause in the public sphere, he strikes a nerve.
Trump may not be the pro-life champion that the movement needs. But when you look at the alternatives, he may be the most powerful ally it has. He’ll continue to use that.
