Vance highlights Trump-era pro-life gains at March for Life

Addressing thousands of pro-life supporters gathered on the National Mall, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance praised the Trump administration’s record on abortion policy, urging continued political and cultural efforts to protect unborn life across America.

The 53rd annual March for Life, held on 23 January, drew tens of thousands of participants from across the country. This year’s event, the second since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, focused on advancing state-level protections and fostering a stronger culture of life.

Speaking from the rally stage, Vance pointed to what he called “historic achievements” under President Trump’s first term, including the appointment of three Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe in 2022. That decision, which returned abortion legislation to the states, marked what Vance described as “one of the most significant moral victories in American legal history.”

“But that decision was only the beginning,” Vance said. “We now face a long road ahead—to ensure that every child is welcomed into life and every mother supported in choosing it.”

Vance, a Catholic and a father of four, framed the abortion issue as both a legal and spiritual challenge, noting that changing hearts would be just as crucial as changing laws. “Our job is not simply to oppose abortion,” he told the crowd. “It is to offer something better—community, hope, the truth about human dignity.”

His appearance, alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson and several leading pro-life figures, signals a firm commitment by the current administration to keep abortion front and centre as a political priority heading into the 2026 election cycle.

Organisers of the March welcomed the strong turnout and visible presence of young people, seminarians, clergy, and religious orders. Signs reading “Love them both” and “Every life is a gift” were common throughout the crowd.

Though Vance avoided explicit mention of upcoming legislation, his remarks referenced efforts in several U.S. states to expand legal protections for unborn children and to limit the reach of mail-order abortion pills—a growing concern for pro-life advocates.

Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, who celebrated Mass for marchers the evening before, said in a statement that “the movement for life is not about politics first—it’s about mercy, justice, and the Gospel of life. But we welcome political courage when we see it.”

The March concluded with a walk up Constitution Avenue to the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court, where prayer groups, choirs and testimonies continued into the afternoon.

For many present, the event was both a celebration and a call to deeper commitment. As Vance put it: “The law can recognise human life—but only love can sustain it.”