Friday’s 52nd National March for Life featured Vice President JD Vance as its keynote speaker. Think about this. Less than five days ago, Vance took the oath of office to become Vice President of the United States, yet it was his honor to choose The March for Life as his first public appearance.
The first public appearance of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic, after assuming office is to speak at the March for Life rally in Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/E0pfYw560T
— Sachin Jose (@Sachinettiyil) January 24, 2025
Certain high-profile pro-life activists hardest hit. In 2024, they were the most vociferous voices saying that they would not vote for then-candidate and former President Donald Trump because he had abandoned the pro-life movement. On Thursday, Trump pardoned 23 pro-life activists; so, coupled with Trump’s appearance, via video, to the crowd on the National Mall and Vance’s keynote address, they should all be eating huge amounts of crow.
In the case of Vance, this appearance is neither political nor academic. Vance appeared at the 2023 Ohio March for Life after he had been elected to the United States Senate. So, long before he was even in consideration for vice president, Vance encouraged the American people in the fight for life and espoused policy that would encourage a culture of life. Vance’s appearance at the National March for Life was not merely to affirm or espouse Trump administration policy, although he did that. Vance acknowledged the continued fight for life and exemplified how he continues to live it.
BREAKING: Vice President JD Vance set to speak at the 2025 March for Life. Here he is in 2023 at the Ohio March for Life. We’re stoked to welcome him to the National stage this year! pic.twitter.com/jZwxM5ABqN
— March for Life (@March_for_Life) January 23, 2025
Vance was introduced by incoming March for Life President Jennie Bradley Lichter, and the crowd was ecstatic to have him. Vance started his speech with gratitude, as he is leading by example.
Let me say, “Thank you.” Good afternoon marchers! Thank you for having me, and it is an honor to be standing with you here today for Life. We are proud to March with you, and Yes, we will be back next year.
The excitement, the passion, the unwavering conviction that everyone here on the National Mall clearly feels. It is deeply moving to me and means more to President Trump and I than I could possibly say. For over a half century, this March has united tens of thousands of Americans from all walks of life to rally for the cause of Life in our nation. It is the single largest gathering in the world to celebrate our movement. These victories, we’ve fought so hard for, and yes, the victories yet to come. And I want to personally welcome all of you who have traveled from far and wide to our nation’s capital. Thank you for your dedication and it is an incredible crowd and it’s great to see you today.
Vance spoke about the inauguration being moved indoors because of the cold, and how nobly and joyfully the March for Life crowd was now braving the cold, then dived into the meat of his speech.
The event theme this year is Life: Why we March. And there are obvious answers to the implicit question it poses. We march to protect the unborn. We march to proclaim and live out the sacred truth that every single child is a miracle and a gift from God. Now, each time Usha and I welcomed our own children into the world, we saw firsthand, the indescribable beauty of new life, and yes, as you can see sometimes the behavioral challenges we had on Monday, but they were good. They were good. And watching all three of our kids grow, learn, and become who they are today, has been the single greatest blessing of our lives.
Vance used this segue to expand on what he deemed were subtler and deeper answers to the question, “Why We March,” and as he did during the vice presidential debate, he spoke to the failure of the government to uphold life in all its forms, and lauded the crowd for doing the work that government cannot do.
Now, the task of our movement is to protect innocent life. It is to defend the unborn, and it is also to be pro-family and pro-life in the fullest sense of the word possible. Now, across my own lifetime, I can’t tell you the number of friends and other acquaintances I’ve had, when facing a pregnancy or the prospect of one react, not with joy, but concern. They wonder how can they afford it? What will it mean for their education, their career, their relationship, or their family. I know how many of you in this crowd have devoted immeasurable time and resources to help answer those questions, and to lend a hand to young people facing a moment of desperation. But by and large, our society, our country, has not yet stepped up in the way you have. And our government certainly has failed in that important responsibility. We’ve failed a generation not only by permitting a culture of abortion on demand, but also by neglecting to help young parents achieve the ingredients they need to lead a happy and meaningful life.
A culture of radical individualism took root. One where the responsibilities and joys of family life were seen as obstacles to overcome, not as personal fulfillment or personal blessings. Our society has failed to recognize the obligation that one generation has to another is a core part of living in a society to begin with.
Vance paused to allow this profound and hard truth to filter across the Mall before continuing.
So, let me say very simply: I want more babies in the United States of America. [cheers]. I want more happy children in our country. And I want beautiful young men and women who are eager to welcome them into the world and eager to raise them. And it is the task of our government to make it easier for young moms and dads to afford to have kids, to bring them into the world, and to welcome them as the blessings that we know they are here at the March for Life. Now, it should be easier—easier to raise a family, easier to find a good job, easier to build a home to raise that family in. Easier to save up and purchase a good stroller, a crib for a nursery. We need a culture that celebrates life at all stages, one that recognizes and truly believes that the benchmark of national success is not our GDP number or our stock market, but whether people feel that they can raise thriving and healthy families in our country.
Vance then dived into the pro-life and pro-family policies that Trump championed and accomplished in his term as the 45th president and will continue to work on as the 47th president. Vance also addressed the weaponization of the justice department by the previous administration and promised that those days are gone.
And no longer will our government throw pro-life protestors and activists, elderly grandparents or anybody else in prison. It stopped on Monday, and we’re not going to let it come back to this country. Instead, and I know you all saw the news, our 47th President has already issued pardons to those unjustly imprisoned. And I want to clear that this administration stands by you, we stand with you, and most importantly, we stand with the most vulnerable and the basic principle that people exercising the right to protest on behalf of the most vulnerable should never have the government go after them ever again.
As stated earlier, Vance was not there just to espouse policy; he was there not just as our vice president; he was there as a fellow American who also stands for Life. Vance praised the crowd of marchers and activists for providing “an extraordinary example for our nation.”
You donate to diaper banks, you help find housing for those in need, you help fund the crisis pregnancy centers that give help to young women and young men at a time of crisis. You guys are the beating heart of the pro-life movement and you’ve saved many lives already and you’re going to save more again. You being here, this very march, is a reminder of the incredible strength and unity of the pro-life movement and from the bottom of my heart, Thank you! Thank you for being here and thank you for marching here today.
Vance offered encouragement that the March for Life was not just a single, once-a-year event but a lifelong call to action.
But every single day you guys do what you do: from supporting young moms and dads, to fighting for the unborn, to working with our legislatures at the state and federal level, you make it possible for us to stand here and say that America is fundamentally a pro-baby, a pro-life, and a pro-family country.
See Vance’s complete 13-minute speech here.
WATCH:
JD Vance’s first public speech as vice president of the United States at the 2025 March for Life.#MarchforLife #EWTNprolife #WhyWeMarch pic.twitter.com/Rwly2oVZXG
— EWTN News (@EWTNews) January 24, 2025
