News
Featured Image
President Trump spokesman Sean Spicer answers questions during a press briefing on Monday.

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 23, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) – Spokesman Sean Spicer strongly defended President Trump's first pro-life life act on Monday to reinstate the ban on funding groups that perform or advocate for abortions abroad.

Spicer said the ban shows the “world what a value we place on life,” as Americans witnessed a pro-life White House in action for the first time in eight years.

At the first official White House press conference under the new president, Spicer was asked by a reporter about Trump signing the pro-life executive order and whether the president sees “the reduction of abortions as an American value.”

Spicer seemed confident and at ease speaking on the subject as he responded: “I think the president, it's no secret, has made it very clear that he's a pro-life president. He wants to stand up for all Americans, including the unborn.

“And I think the reinstatement of this [Mexico City] policy is not just something that echoes that value but respects taxpayer funding as well, and ensures that we're standing up not just for life — for life of the unborn, but [also for] taxpayer funds that are being spent overseas to perform an action that is contrary to the values of this president — and I think continue to further illustrate not to just the folks here in this country but around the world what a value we place on life.”

The same reporter had also asked whether Trump will sign a bill defunding Planned Parenthood. Spicer did not directly answer that portion of the question, but his strong pro-life affirmation leaves little doubt that the days appear numbered for U.S. federal (taxpayer) funding of Planned Parenthood’s abortion business.

Spicer’s comments amounted to a repudiation of eight years of former President Obama’s relentless “abortion rights” policies and advocacy at home and overseas. Obama campaigned for president as a strong ally of Planned Parenthood and never relented in supporting the abortion giant.

Asked what the expectations should be from the Trump White House among attendees of the March for Life in Washington on Friday, Spicer said, “Their expectations should be that he's going to stand up [for] and value life, born or unborn — same as he's said throughout the last year and a half, that he's going to stand up and protect life, promote it, and instill policies that promote life, that promote adoption, that help support young women, that help support funding of agencies and clinics that support women's health.

“I think that's what he's going to talk about: it's supporting all of life, the born and the unborn, throughout life — making sure that we have healthcare that can support the American people and the American family. That's what he's going to fight for and that's what he's going to be clear on.”

Transcript of Sean Spicer’s pro-life responses at White House press conference Jan. 23, 2017:

Question on whether President Trump sees the reduction of abortion as an “American value,” and whether he will sign legislation defunding Planned Parenthood:

Spicer: “I think the president, it's no secret, has made it very clear that he's a pro-life president. He wants to stand up for all Americans including the unborn.

“And I think the reinstatement of this [Mexico City] policy is not just something that echoes that value but respects taxpayer funding as well, and ensures that we're standing up not just for life–for life of the unborn, but [also for] taxpayer funds that are being spent overseas to perform an action that is contrary to the values of this president — and I think continue to further illustrate not to just the folks here in this country but around the world what a value we place on life.”

Question on what should the expectations be for attendees at the upcoming March for Life:

Spicer: “Their expectations should be that he's going to stand up [for] and value life, born or unborn–same as he's said throughout the last year and a half, that he's going to stand up and protect life, promote it, and instill policies that promote life, that promote adoption, that help support young women, that help support funding of agencies and clinics that support women's health.

“I think that's what he's going to talk about: it's supporting all of life, the born and the unborn, throughout life–making sure that we have healthcare that can  support the American people and the American family. That's what he's going to fight for and that's what he's going to be clear on.”