Anti-abortion activists gathered in Washington Friday for an annual rally, with U.S. President Donald Trump addressing the crowd via a video link and promising that he will always defend the right to life.
Thousands of activists gathered for the 46th March for Life, rallying at the U.S. Supreme Court to protest the court's Roe v. Wade decision that effectively legalized abortion across the country more than four decades ago.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence attended the rally, introducing the video of Trump and calling him "the most pro-life president in American history."
Trump said in his prerecorded video that he will "veto any legislation that weakens the protection of human life."
He also touted his administration's policy that blocks U.S. federal funding for nongovernmental organizations that provide abortion counseling or that advocate for greater abortion services.
"As president, I will always defend the first right in our Declaration of Independence, the right to life," which he said extended to "unborn children."
Pence told the crowd, "We gather here because we stand for life. We gather here because we stand for compassion."
Other speakers who addressed this year's rally included Congressman Dan Lipinski, a Democrat, and Congressman Chris Smith, a Republican.
During his 2016 campaign, Trump vowed to appoint Supreme Court justices he believed would overturn Roe v. Wade. Since becoming president, he has appointed two justices to the court, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, who had a contentious confirmation hearing this past September.
