President Donald Trump delivered the keynote address Tuesday night at Susan B. Anthony List’s 11th annual Campaign for Life Gala in Washington, D.C. — the first sitting American president to do so.

Susan B. Anthony List is a pro-life lobbying organization with more than 600,000 members. The group works to end abortion by bolstering the ranks of pro-life women in state and federal positions of political leadership.

Close

Celebrated musical artist and pro-life advocate Joy Villa attended the gala, wearing her famous dress adorned with a colorful depiction of an unborn child. Villa sang the national anthem to open the event.

American model, actress and entrepreneur Kathy Ireland, who served as the evening’s host, delivered impassioned remarks that included a description of her own journey from pro-choice to pro-life. Ireland is a Christian, but her decision was not one based on her faith, she said. It was, instead, based on science.

Ireland called abortion a “human rights crisis.”

Marjorie Dannenfelser, Susan B. Anthony List’s president, introduced President Trump. “We are on the verge of revolution when it comes to Roe v. Wade,” Dannenfelser said as part of a video presentation to the gala’s distinguished guests.

Dannenfelser invited guests to imagine what the night would have looked like if President Trump had not been elected. She then detailed the steps President Trump and others in his administration have taken to advance the pro-life cause.

“We fought in 2016 for a different future. We fought for them. The mothers and the children. And they are worth fighting for. We fought and we won,” she said to a jubilant crowd.

“I am here to tell you today, that when it comes to life, President Trump is keeping his promises,” she emphasized to applause. “He has talked the talk and he has walked the walk,” she added.

“We are at the cusp of changing history … We are one Supreme Court judge away,” said Dannenfelser.

Who do you think would win the Presidency?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

When Trump took the stage, he became the first U.S. president to address the group. He thanked numerous members of Congress in attendance, including, among many others, Reps. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Sean Duffy (R-Wis.), Steve King (R-Iowa), and Steve Scalise (R-La.).

Trump described Kellyanne Conway as “a true fighter for faith and family,” and later in the evening, she accepted the organization’s Distinguished Leader Award for 2018.

From one of his very first acts as president, which prevented taxpayer dollars from funding abortions overseas, to this week’s announcement that his administration will seek to block Title X funding from further subsidizing the domestic abortion industry, the president has kept his promise to champion the cause of life. His announcement regarding the pending demise of Title X funding for abortion providers and enablers was met with a standing ovation by gala attendees.

America is one of very few countries that permit late-term abortion. Trump explained that he seeks passage of a 20-week abortion bill to end this heinous practice.

The president went on to describe the Democrat Party as “far outside the mainstream” with respect to abortion. America is one of very few countries that permit late-term abortion. Trump explained that he seeks passage of a 20-week abortion bill to end this heinous practice.

He drew attention to the fact that for the first time since Roe v. Wade, America has a pro-life president, a pro-life vice president, a pro-life House of Representatives, and 25 pro-life republican state capitals.

“That is pretty good!” he said.

Trump then told the story of adorable four-year-old Katharine. The child and her parents, Lisa and Bruce Alexander, are from Gaithersburg, Maryland.

After they attended a March for Life rally, the Alexanders decided to adopt a child. In 2014, they brought baby Katharine into their home with open arms. She was born opioid-dependent and “desperately needed a loving home,” the president explained.

President Trump waved to now four-year-old Katharine from the podium, greeted her warmly, encouraged her to join him on stage — and gave her a kiss on the cheek once her parents brought her onstage.

“She is full of incredible energy, spirit and talent,” Trump said.

He told the crowd that clever Katharine memorized “America the Beautiful” at the age of two, that she recites poetry, and that recently she told her dad that when she grows up, she wants to be a police officer. Then “when she gets tired of that, she wants to become president.”

“She’ll be president some day,” he told the crowd.

“We celebrate all lives. We celebrate the loving choice of adoption. Every life is sacred, and every child is a precious gift from God,” he added.

Ireland described House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) as a “rock-solid pro-life champion.” She noted Scalise’s inspirational comeback after being severely injured. Scalise was shot while practicing for a congressional baseball game. The shooter was targeting Republicans for their political stances.

“There is no tougher fighter … than Kellyanne Conway,” said Scalise of the evening’s honoree.

“We want to defund Planned Parenthood,” said Scalise, who explained that lawmakers were just one vote away from achieving that goal. He encouraged attendees to promote candidates who can help them get pro-life legislation to President Trump’s desk.

Related: Pro-Life Advocates Cheer Trump’s Reported Targeting of Clinics

Scalise offered words about the power of prayer just prior to his “here’s-to-life” toast. He used himself as an example of how the power of prayer made a difference. Scalise has undergone nine surgeries since the shooting on the baseball field in June of 2017.

Following a speech at the gala during which Kellyanne Conway accepted the Susan B. Anthony List’s Distinguished Leader Award, Conway discussed pro-life and other issues with Fox News host Laura Ingraham Tuesday night on “The Ingraham Angle.”

“He’s the most pro-life president I think we’ve ever had,” said Ingraham.

“Defending life, the most innocent among us who have no lobbyists and no fat cats behind them … I was so moved by that.”

“Defending life, the most innocent among us who have no lobbyists and no fat cats behind them … I was so moved by that,” she added.

Ingraham suggested to Conway that liberals do not believe President Trump is truly pro-life.

“Look at his record,” Conway responded. She proceeded to tick off a lengthy list of President Trump’s accomplishments in championing the pro-life cause, which began in the first days of his presidency.

“The Mexico city policy, Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court, first president ever to address the [Susan B. Anthony List] Gala, first president ever to address the March for Life, and Mike Pence, of course, was the first vice president ever to do the same. All you have to do is look at the policies.”

“And President Trump would probably say, ‘This is just a good start,'” Conway added with a smile.

Michele Blood is a Flemington, New Jersey-based freelance writer and a regular contributor to LifeZette.