In video, Trump gives support to March for Life participants

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is promising protesters demonstrating against abortion rights that he will veto any bill that "weakens the protection of human life."

Trump spoke via video Friday to participants in this year's March for Life on the National Mall.

"As president, I will always defend the first right in our Declaration of Independence, the right to life," Trump said.

Lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle highlighted legislative efforts on the abortion issue ahead of Friday's march.

Some Democratic lawmakers in the House held a news conference last week to note their support for ending a ban of Medicaid funding for abortion services known as the Hyde Act. The Republican-led Senate failed to advance a measure that would permanently prohibit taxpayer funding for abortion. Trump said he supported that effort.

Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who attended the event, listed actions the administration has taken over the last two years to deter abortions.

Trump noted that the administration has ensured foreign aid doesn’t flow to organizations that promote abortion. Pence credited Trump with nominating conservative judges to the federal bench.

Isabel Chism, 18, from the Detroit area, was among the participants. She said young women need to make their voices heard no matter their political leaning and she’s concerned that women with her antiabortion perspective are often ignored.

“A majority of our group is women, and we believe in women’s equality, but we also believe in the equality of unborn women,” Chism said.

The first march took place on the west steps of the Capitol in January 1974, the year after the Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade. Thousands braved the cold to attend Friday’s event.