Vice President JD Vance headlined the annual March for Life rally Friday in Washington, declaring he has made good on a call to action he made a year ago, and saying the pro-life movement has "an ally in the White House."
"Now, some of you may remember that in my remarks last year, I told you all that one of the things I most wanted in the United States of America was more families and more babies. So let the record show you have a vice president who practices what he preaches," Vance told the rall that aired live on Newsmax and the free Newsmax2 streaming platform.
"Usha and I announced this week that we are expecting our fourth. And it will be our third baby boy. So we'll take whatever prayers you can give. We certainly need them."
Vance began his remarks before thousands, celebrating the joy in the face of relentless abortion activism.
"And when I was here last year, I had one other piece of advice for this group and that was very simple to be joyful in your advocacy and looking out at this crowd today, it seems like you took that suggestion very well to heart, because I see joyful people," Vance continued. "I see grandmas, I see parents, I see beautiful little kids with incredible green hats.
"Now, did you all dress like that so that if you lost yourselves, you could find everybody? OK, that's a good plan.
"I'm going to take that advice back home."
Vance declared "life is a gift," following President Donald Trump's recorded Oval Office remarks echoing that same mantra.
"The theme of this year's March for life is, most of you all know is that life is a gift, and I know for me personally, this year, there is so much to be thankful for," Vance said.
"I'm grateful to my own family, for my beautiful wife, Usha, and that God has given us the miracle of new life again."
Vance hailed Trump's fulfilling the political promise of restoring the states right to determine abortion law after the unwinding of Supreme Court precedent set by Roe v. Wade.
"All of us, all of us in the Trump administration from the president on down: We thank you for your prayers," Vance added told the thousands preparing to march after his speech.
"We thank you for your perseverance. And we thank you that for today, we are all marching for life."
Organizers say the national gathering — held annually since 1974 — draws tens of thousands to the capital each January around the anniversary of the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.
On its official schedule, the group lists the National March for Life Rally & Concert as running 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with the march to follow usually around 1 p.m.
The March for Life says it is continuing its advocacy in the post-Dobbs era, framing the event as both a demonstration and a celebration of what it calls the right to life.
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, said pro-life advocates have been waiting for stronger moves from the Trump administration.
"It'd be great to get an announcement that the FDA has completed their review, and they’ve acknowledged the dangers of mifepristone," Perkins told Roll Call. "There's no indication that that's coming."
Despite internal GOP unease, Perkins said abortion remains a potent political force that could shape future elections, especially as Democrats seek to revive the issue in 2026.
Perkins noted that pro-life political action committees continue to wield significant influence, pointing to Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, which spent $92 million in the last election cycle.
"If there are those that don't care about the life issue, they should care about the politics of this," Perkins said. "This is going to be a political problem for those who have sold out the pro-life movement."
Newsmax's James Morley III contributed to this report.
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.