One year after the landmark Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, former President Donald J. Trump addressed a gathering of evangelical activists in Washington, D.C. He emphasized his role in shaping the court’s conservative supermajority that brought an end to nearly half a century of constitutional protections for abortion. Trump, speaking at a Faith & Freedom Coalition gala, highlighted his appointment of three out of six justices who voted against the law. In his meandering 90-minute speech, he presented himself as a steadfast champion for the Christian right.
Asserting his unwavering dedication, Trump proclaimed, “No president has ever fought for Christians as hard as I have. I accomplished what nobody thought possible.” This appearance marked the eighth time Trump has addressed the group, as he seeks to solidify their support in the fiercely contested race for the 2024 Republican nomination.
During his speech, Trump shared an anecdote about a woman questioning how anyone could oppose him considering his impact on overturning Roe v. Wade. The mention of the ruling prompted applause from the few thousand activists in attendance, with several hundred more filling an overflow room. Trump emphasized that conservatives now have newfound power in the ongoing fight over abortion rights.
The Road to Majority conference, organized by the Faith & Freedom Coalition, saw the majority of Trump’s Republican rivals, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence. Speaking at a rally commemorating the court’s decision earlier in the day, Pence urged anti-abortion activists to continue advocating for further restrictions at the state level.
Engaging with the crowd, Pence declared, “Save the babies, and we will save America,” echoing sentiments from a previous speech where he called on all 2024 Republican candidates to endorse a national abortion ban at 15 weeks, a position more extreme than Trump’s current stance.
Supporters of Trump, like David Porter from Virginia, commended his influence on the judiciary. Porter expressed strong support, stating, “He’s my guy right now.” Throughout his speech, Trump repeatedly positioned himself as an ally of the faith community under attack, comparing their shared struggle to combat the “arsonists, atheists, globalists, and Marxists.”
Trump framed each indictment against him as a “great badge of courage,” proclaiming, “I’m being indicted for you.” His alliance with the Christian right has proven politically advantageous for both sides. Evangelical voters played a vital role in Trump’s 2016 primary victories, looking beyond his personal indiscretions and supporting his populist platform. In return, Trump delivered on his promise to appoint “pro-life” justices, securing a conservative majority on the Supreme Court.
As Trump seeks the evangelical vote once again, he faces numerous indictments, including one related to a hush-money case involving a porn star. However, he has repeatedly avoided answering questions about whether he would sign a federal abortion ban if one were to pass through Congress.
Anti-abortion activists, like Mr. Porter, expressed concern over Trump’s evasiveness, emphasizing the importance of standing up for one’s beliefs. Ron DeSantis, who also spoke at the evangelical conference, criticized Trump for suggesting that a six-week abortion ban enacted in Florida was “too harsh.”
Susan Migliore, an anti-abortion activist from Virginia, expressed gratitude for Trump’s court appointments but has yet to decide which candidate she will support in 2024.
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