On Friday, the annual March for Life takes place in Washington, D.C. The annual event protesting abortion and proclaiming the worth of the unborn is a welcome sight during a time in which abortion continues to be normalized. Unsurprisingly, the liberal media and Democratic politicians give the event little to no attention.
Meanwhile, when a Republican president is in office, they often address and encourage the march attendees via telephone or satellite. This year, President Trump makes history by becoming the first sitting president to appear in person at the march. This is no insignificant matter.
The president has been a strong, unapologetic advocate for the unborn since the start of his term. In his first year alone, Trump reinstated the Mexico City policy preventing U.S. money sent abroad from going to abortion groups, nominated Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, and directed the Department of Health and Human Services to recognize, for the first time ever in its four-year strategic plan, that life begins at conception.
Since then, Trump has successfully appointed hundreds of pro-life judges to the federal bench, his administration has expanded the Obamacare contraception exemption, and due to changes the Trump administration made to Title X, Planned Parenthood withdrew from the program entirely. Trump may have been pro-choice earlier in life, but to say that he is a pro-life president is completely accurate — an understatement, even. His appearance at the March for Life is yet another indication that his administration is committed to the cause of life.
It is, of course, no secret that the 45th president is one of the most controversial politicians of all time. Even as he lends his support to those marching in our nation’s capital, he is embroiled in an impeachment trial that has only just begun. But despite the questions and concerns surrounding his past and present behavior, his attendance matters.
It matters because the liberal media likes to promote the narrative that a large portion of people in the United States support abortion. This could not be further from the truth.
According to a Gallup poll from June 2019, 49% self-identify as pro-life, while 46% self-identify as pro-choice. This continues the trend of an almost evenly divided nation. So it is simply incorrect to paint the country as enthusiastically supportive of abortion. Because high-profile individuals in the liberal media, entertainment industry, and politics label themselves pro-choice and tirelessly use their platforms to defend abortion, we rarely get to hear from the other side. Often, it feels as if the pro-life community is losing the battle both legally and culturally. But those of us who defend life in the womb should never give up the fight no matter the odds. It is too important an issue to surrender.
Thanks to Trump’s attendance at the rally, a spotlight is placed on the issue in a way that’s rarely been done before: The leader of our nation is publicly acknowledging the inherent worth of the unborn individual while also admitting that more must be done. While too many dismiss the March for Life as nothing of consequence and only a reflection of a small portion of public sentiment, the president recognizes the opposite is true. The vibrant pro-life community assembled at the march passionately represents nearly half of the country itself. They should not be ignored.
No matter what you otherwise think of Trump, his support for the pro-life movement during his tenure as president should be applauded. Those who value unborn life are not required to agree on anything other than the intrinsic worth of each human being. It matters not what opinions are held on other political issues. Commending Trump for his attendance at an annual gathering where life is celebrated does not require a stamp of approval on anything else that comes from the man or his administration.
The president’s appearance at the March for Life serves as a visual reminder of what his administration has done in the past and promises to do in the future. And that is worth celebrating.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner‘s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
