White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced Wednesday afternoon President Trump will speak to the March for Life in Washington D.C. on Friday. He is the first sitting president to do so. He will address the crowd live through a video conference.
“Since his first day in office, President Trump has remained steadfast on his campaign promises to the pro-life cause and has actively worked to protect the unborn…We welcome our 45th President, Donald Trump, to the 45th annual March for Life," March for Life President Jeanne Mancini said in a statement. “Over the past year, the Trump administration has significantly advanced pro-life policy, and it is with great confidence that, under his leadership, we expect to see other pro-life achievements in the years to come."
Last year, Vice President-elect Mike Pence and White House senior advisor and former Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway gave speeches at the annual event. House Speaker Paul Ryan will also speak this year.
The March for Life happens every year, with hundreds-of-thousands of pro-life activists braving cold weather conditions in a push to end abortion. This year marks the 45th since the march was started after Roe v. Wade was decided by the Supreme Court. It is America's largest pro-life event and people from around the country attend.
"The mission of the March for Life is to provide all Americans with a place to testify to the beauty of life and the dignity of each human person. Both in January, on the anniversary of legalized abortion in the US, and throughout the year we bring together pro-life leaders and groups to organize, unite and strategize around a common message, and to communicate this message to the government, the media and the nation in a way that is powerful and life affirming," the March for Life website states.
This post has been updated with additional information.