By Charles Igwe
President Donald Trump, newly inaugurated for his second term, is set to visit wildfire-stricken areas in Southern California on Friday, Jan. 24, the same day as the 2025 March for Life in Washington, D.C.
During his first term, Trump made history as the first sitting president to attend the March for Life in person in 2020. He also addressed the event via video messages in 2018 and 2019, while then-Vice President Mike Pence represented the administration in 2017. Despite his absence this year, Trump’s past engagement has highlighted his administration’s pro-life stance.
While the White House has not confirmed whether Trump or his administration will make a virtual or in-person appearance at this year’s march, the event will feature notable speakers, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Congressman Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey.
The president’s trip to California comes in response to weeks of devastating wildfires that have ravaged parts of the state. Trump has criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for what he called an inadequate response to the crisis, urging Newsom to resign. In a post on TruthSocial, Trump stated: “This is all his fault.”
Speaking at a rally the day before his inauguration, Trump announced his plans to visit the affected areas, saying, “I’m going to go out there on Friday to see it and to get it moving back.”
While the March for Life will proceed without the president’s direct participation, his visit to California reflects his focus on addressing national crises early in his second term. His past involvement with the March for Life continues to resonate with the pro-life community as they gather for this year’s event.
