Trump trashes Roe v. Wade ruling in anti-abortion screed lamenting ‘lives cut short’

New York Daily News, The (NY)

Jan. 19--President Trump took direct aim at the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade ruling on Friday, issuing an official screed lamenting "the lives cut short" by abortion.

In one of his most forceful denunciations of abortion rights to date, Trump intimated in a "National Sanctity of Human Life" proclamation that the high court's 1973 decision was wrong.

"Today marks the 46th year since the United States Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade," Trump opened the missive. "On this day...we mourn the lives cut short, and the tremendous promise lost, as a result of abortion. As a Nation, we must resolve to protect innocent human life at every stage."

The President shouted out his two successful nominations to the Supreme Court -- Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch -- and signaled he hopes the two conservative jurists are able to overturn Roe, which has been credited with affirming the constitutional right to abortion.

"Our Constitution and our laws contain many protections for innocent life, and I have worked hard for the confirmation and appointment of judges -- including two outstanding Supreme Court justices -- committed to the rule of law," Trump wrote.

Trump also doubled down on his pledge to veto any legislation that would provide better access to abortion services and touted some of his administration's anti-abortion accomplishments, including prohibiting U.S. foreign aid from being used for women's reproductive health services.

"As President, I am committed to defending the Right to Life," Trump wrote.

Trump's proclamation came as conservatives converged on the capital to participate in the anti-abortion March for Life, which featured a surprise appearance by Vice President Pence this year.

Abortion-rights activists ripped Trump's talking points as belonging to another century and countered that women alone should have the right to chose what to do with their bodies.

"Politicians aren't medical experts," Planned Parenthood tweeted. "When it comes to abortion, no one can make that decision for someone else. Period."

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