“The Fight Isn’t Over”: Trump Ignites New Pro-Life Culture War

Paul Riverbank, 1/24/2026Trump revives pro-life fervor, sparking fresh culture clashes and debate within the conservative movement.

As the crowd shuffled and stamped their feet for warmth, a massive screen flickered to life against the grey sky. President Donald Trump’s recorded message boomed out across the gathering. He began by tying today’s rally to a larger moment looming just over the horizon—America’s 250th birthday, a milestone heavy with talk of rights and founding values. Trump thanked every person braving “this winter day—a beautiful day, but it’s winter nevertheless.” That got a ripple of laughter and a few yells of encouragement from the back.

He wasted little time before reminding everyone of his history on the issue. “Six years ago, I was proud to be the first president in history to attend this march in person,” he said, leaving a beat for applause that came on cue. The pivot to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision—seen as a watershed by those gathered—felt expected. Trump’s claim: that his handpicked justices had delivered a win “the pro-life movement had waited generations for” isn’t hyperbole in this crowd; it is gospel.

But if supporters felt like celebrating, Trump’s speech pressed for caution. “The work to rebuild a culture that supports life continues in every state, every community, and every part of our beautiful land,” he said, voice steady, maybe even a little stern. As if to remind everyone, victories in Washington don’t always trickle down the way movements imagine.

Later in his comments, Trump nodded to fresh initiatives. One in particular stood out—the promise that babies born in the coming years would automatically receive a $1,000 investment. “It’s just a start,” he said, “but it’s concrete proof we value family and children in America.” A few in the crowd exchanged glances, as though weighing both the symbolism and the substance.

The president also circled back to themes of faith and religious freedom, familiar terrain for his base. “We’re bringing back faith in America. We’re bringing back God,” he thundered, his words met with a low cheer that bled into applause. Examples flew fast—ending certain types of federal funding, new protections for medical workers, and support for faith-based adoption organizations. Whether these moves are enough to unite the movement, or just paper over differences, remains to be seen.

Vice President JD Vance—relatively new to the national stage compared to Trump—followed up with a riff on persuasion. “Building a culture of life requires persuasion, and that’s what’s so different about this moment,” Vance argued. The fight for influence, he suggested, has moved out of the nation’s highest court and into living rooms, school boards, and statehouses. “We’re not arguing to the Supreme Court anymore. We’re trying to reach our fellow citizens.”

Within the coalition, not everyone is on the same page. Longtime activists have begun grumbling about the pace of regulatory change, especially when it comes to abortion pills. Trump and his team left in place FDA rules allowing abortion medication by mail—an omission that’s built up into something of a sore spot for a segment of supporters.

Some Republican lawmakers are clearly uneasy, too, as they walk the tightrope between their promises and the realities of governing. There’s chatter about transparency (references to Epstein files pop up in side conversations), and worries that the narrative about “supporting life” is stalling out amid newer, flashier campaign pledges—like promises to battle the rising cost of living.

Rich Logis, once a Trump devotee, now runs an organization known as Leaving MAGA. He summed up the shifting sands within the movement with a metaphor: “Epiphanies usually happen slowly, and then all at once,” he told me. “Some, especially among Latino voters, are beginning to question whether this really is their movement. That can take a while, but when it does change, it feels sudden.”

For all the internal tension, the March for Life continues to draw tens of thousands—people who see themselves as part of something bigger than policy, something pressed between personal belief and national debate. The big speeches and new policies, the arguments behind closed doors, right down to the scratchy scarf and shivering hands holding a scribbled sign—they all mark a movement wrestling with its future, even as it makes history. The battle, as leaders make sure to remind anyone listening, is nowhere near over. And what the next skirmish looks like, on streets or in Congress, is anyone’s guess.

The January air was sharp, almost biting, yet it couldn’t dampen the energy gathering outside the Capitol. People had come armed with wool hats, scarves, handwritten signs, and a sense of purpose that cut through the cold. “Life is Precious” was scrawled in bold on more than a few placards bobbing above the crowd. The annual March for Life once again turned the wide avenue into a reminder of America’s complicated relationship with the issue of abortion—except this year, something in the mood felt different: not quite triumphant, not quite anxious either, but rather a mixture of both.As the crowd shuffled and stamped their feet for warmth, a massive screen flickered to life against the grey sky. President Donald Trump’s recorded message boomed out across the gathering. He began by tying today’s rally to a larger moment looming just over the horizon—America’s 250th birthday, a milestone heavy with talk of rights and founding values. Trump thanked every person braving “this winter day—a beautiful day, but it’s winter nevertheless.” That got a ripple of laughter and a few yells of encouragement from the back.He wasted little time before reminding everyone of his history on the issue. “Six years ago, I was proud to be the first president in history to attend this march in person,” he said, leaving a beat for applause that came on cue. The pivot to the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision—seen as a watershed by those gathered—felt expected. Trump’s claim: that his handpicked justices had delivered a win “the pro-life movement had waited generations for” isn’t hyperbole in this crowd; it is gospel.But if supporters felt like celebrating, Trump’s speech pressed for caution. “The work to rebuild a culture that supports life continues in every state, every community, and every part of our beautiful land,” he said, voice steady, maybe even a little stern. As if to remind everyone, victories in Washington don’t always trickle down the way movements imagine.Later in his comments, Trump nodded to fresh initiatives. One in particular stood out—the promise that babies born in the coming years would automatically receive a $1,000 investment. “It’s just a start,” he said, “but it’s concrete proof we value family and children in America.” A few in the crowd exchanged glances, as though weighing both the symbolism and the substance.The president also circled back to themes of faith and religious freedom, familiar terrain for his base. “We’re bringing back faith in America. We’re bringing back God,” he thundered, his words met with a low cheer that bled into applause. Examples flew fast—ending certain types of federal funding, new protections for medical workers, and support for faith-based adoption organizations. Whether these moves are enough to unite the movement, or just paper over differences, remains to be seen.Vice President JD Vance—relatively new to the national stage compared to Trump—followed up with a riff on persuasion. “Building a culture of life requires persuasion, and that’s what’s so different about this moment,” Vance argued. The fight for influence, he suggested, has moved out of the nation’s highest court and into living rooms, school boards, and statehouses. “We’re not arguing to the Supreme Court anymore. We’re trying to reach our fellow citizens.”Within the coalition, not everyone is on the same page. Longtime activists have begun grumbling about the pace of regulatory change, especially when it comes to abortion pills. Trump and his team left in place FDA rules allowing abortion medication by mail—an omission that’s built up into something of a sore spot for a segment of supporters.Some Republican lawmakers are clearly uneasy, too, as they walk the tightrope between their promises and the realities of governing. There’s chatter about transparency (references to Epstein files pop up in side conversations), and worries that the narrative about “supporting life” is stalling out amid newer, flashier campaign pledges—like promises to battle the rising cost of living.Rich Logis, once a Trump devotee, now runs an organization known as Leaving MAGA. He summed up the shifting sands within the movement with a metaphor: “Epiphanies usually happen slowly, and then all at once,” he told me. “Some, especially among Latino voters, are beginning to question whether this really is their movement. That can take a while, but when it does change, it feels sudden.”For all the internal tension, the March for Life continues to draw tens of thousands—people who see themselves as part of something bigger than policy, something pressed between personal belief and national debate. The big speeches and new policies, the arguments behind closed doors, right down to the scratchy scarf and shivering hands holding a scribbled sign—they all mark a movement wrestling with its future, even as it makes history. The battle, as leaders make sure to remind anyone listening, is nowhere near over. And what the next skirmish looks like, on streets or in Congress, is anyone’s guess.