Trump's Anti-Abortion March Attendance Fuels Presidential Campaign
By: Jonathan Giovanazzi
Thousands of protestors gathered the nation's capital on Jan. 24 to witness one of the most significant moments in history of the pro-life movement: the first president to attend and speak at a March For Life anti-abortion event.
Since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, thousands of protestors across the nation have made their voices heard; this group demands political action that will preserve and protect the lives of unborn babies. The March For Life event is the nation's largest annual protest, and this time around, President Trump made an appearance.
The crowd, flooded with red and white Make America Great Again t-shirts and hats spoke back to the president, "Four more years, four more years!"
Trump's speech gained applause and support from the audience more than any other speaker at the event.
"All of us here today understand an eternal truth: Every child is a precious and sacred gift from God," Trump said. The crowd erupted. "We must protect, cherish, and defend the dignity and sanctity of every human life." The president further discussed his work in office; he incorporated talk of his work in appointing judges Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
The crowd loved the speech, but did Trump attempt to gain supporters for the upcoming election? Was his speech on Christianity and life actually filled with rhetoric designed to attract voters?
The opinions on those questions vary.
Trump has used the topic of abortion to fuel his campaign in the past: the commander in chief signed a bill in 2017 allowing states to deny funding to Planned Parenthood. He has also appointed judges who lie on the far right side of the spectrum. More conservatives in positions of power help Trump pass laws he finds helpful to the nation.
Moderate pro-choice supporters are switching sides due to recent events. Kathy Tran (D-Fairfax) wrote a bill last February to protect a woman's right to choose. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam backed the idea. Republicans examined the bill and slammed Tran, Northam, and their supporters. The GOP noted that the bill would allow abortion up to the point of delivery if the mother's life in jeopardy.
This didn't sit well with a lot of the country. Democrats switched sides in February and Trump brought the same bill and the same politicians up in his speech last week to hit the left even harder.
"We love the commonwealth of Virginia, but what is going on in Virginia?" Trump says. "The Governor stated that he would execute a baby after birth!"
Trump’s statements were heavily exaggerated, but this didn’t bother anyone in the crowd. Tran's bill did not pass last year and nothing on the topic has been introduced this year.
Democrats are also accusing the president of using the event as a way to escape from backlash regarding his ongoing impeachment trial. To some, the conservative audience at March For Life diverted attention away from the criminal charges Trump faces.
What really infuriates the Democratic Party that Trump was actually pro-choice before his time in office. In an interview in 1999 on NBC's "Meet The Press," Mr. Trump described himself as "pro-choice in every respect," but he reversed positions in 2011, when he began to consider running for office.
There is a strong argument suggesting that his views are based solely to attract voters and the language he uses only tricks people into voting conservative. Talk of abortion and the president's impeachment trial continue; Trump's intentions for the country will continue to show, and America will be there to witness it.