Donald Trump became the first sitting president to address the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Friday, saying “every child, born and unborn,” has the right “to fulfill their God-given potential.”

The first march occurred in January 1974 on the first anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion nationwide and has taken place every year since.

“It is my profound honor to be the first president in history to attend the March for Life,” Trump told the tens of thousands assembled on the National Mall.

“Today as president of the United States, I am truly proud to stand with you,” Trump proclaimed to the cheers of attendees.

“We’re here for a very simple reason: To defend the right of every child, born and unborn, to fulfill their God-given potential,” the president said.

“All of us here today understand an eternal truth: Every child is a precious and sacred gift from God,” Trump said. “When we see the image of a baby in the womb, we glimpse the majesty of God’s creation.”

He noted that many in the audience were high school and college students from around the country.

“It’s your generation that is making America the pro-family, pro-life nation,” Trump said.

“Unborn children have never had a stronger defender in the White House.”