With a hand on the Bible and an eye toward the future, Barack Obama’s successor didn’t wait until Monday to start building voters’ trust. His new title was barely hours old when President Donald Trump got to work writing a new chapter for America. By lunch, he’d already signed an executive order targeting Obamacare — with promises of more to come. “The time for empty talk is over,” he vowed to the masses on the National Mall. “Now arrives the hour of action.”

And he meant it. Before the city even began sweeping up the streets from Friday’s parade, President Trump was beginning to clean up a mess himself: eight years of liberal lawlessness. Of course, not everyone was happy to see the wheels of change start turning. Angry activists on the Left streamed into the streets, setting cars on fire and vandalizing everything in their path. At security checkpoints around the city, police arrived in riot gear, trying to hold back the wave of protestors. Reporters and Trump supporters watched, stunned, as demonstrators turned violent, throwing concrete at officers (some of whom had to be hospitalized). “After the swearing in, protesters arrived at the Franklin Square area and clashed with police. The protesters were throwing rocks, bricks … and taking newspaper boxes and barriers and putting them on the streets,” The Washington Post wrote from the chaotic scene.

“Meanwhile, police appeared to be using a flurry of flash-bang grenades and chemical spray to hold the protesters back, pushing them block-by-block west along K Street, from 12th Street toward 14th Street. During the afternoon clash, the protesters started a fire in the middle of the street using garbage bins and newspaper boxes, and some climbed trees and light poles… They also threw fireworks and broke glass at bus stops, businesses, and the windows of a limousine.” More than 200 people were arrested, dozens were left injured, and DC Interim Police Chief Peter Newsham told the press later that there’d been “significant damage to a number of blocks in our city.”

But that was nothing compared to the damage done to the Left’s reputation. In one of the more shocking displays of the day, one video captured an outraged crowd chasing the former governor of North Carolina, Pat McCrory, into an alley behind the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where Fox Business was broadcasting its coverage of the inaugural activities. Shouting “shame” and “bigot” (and other threats we can’t repeat), the group pursued the conservative leader down the street until police arrived on the scene. And liberals accuse us of intolerance? They must be referring to 2008 and 2012 when conservatives were lighting garbage cans on fire and hospitalizing officers. Oh, you mean they didn’t? If you’re wondering about the difference between the two ideologies, this is it. As disappointed as we were when Barack Obama was elected (and more so when he was re-elected), Christians didn’t march on Washington and destroy everything in their wake. They didn’t hunt down a governor who was trying to protect the privacy of his state, screaming threats. If the Left is looking to eliminate hate and intolerance, they should first look in the mirror.

Fortunately, even the vitriol from the masses of angry Left couldn’t detract from a night to remember across the city. At the Faith, Freedom & Future Ball, FRC had the privilege of hosting its first inaugural ball with friends from across the conservative movement. Together with almost 800 men and women of faith, we celebrated this new chapter for America and looked forward to being co-laborers in rebuilding the values that set our nation apart. From the toe-tapping sounds of the big band to the inspiring worship of some of Christian music’s most famous faces, we ushered in the inauguration with gratitude and hope for the restoration that lies ahead. We laughed with comedian Chonda Pierce, praised God with husband and wife teams Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes and Amanda and Aaron Crabb, and clapped along with Guy Penrod.

It was a night to remember — not because of the incredible food or entertainment, but because of what it represents for our nation: a new day and opportunity for the church. As the Psalmist wrote, “The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” To watch the festivities, follow this Facebook link. For more on the inauguration — including the record number of prayers and religious influences — along with my politically incorrect take on the rioting, don’t miss my interview with Fox News’s Neil Cavuto.

Originally published here.

Trump Says Adios to Obama’s Mexico City Stance

Anyone wondering what President Trump would do for pro-lifers didn’t have to wait long to find out! In his first weekday on the job, the new White House made protecting the unborn a top priority, wasting no time reinstating the Mexico City policy that President Obama suspended almost the moment he stepped foot in the Oval Office. Almost immediately, the Trump administration set to work building a different kind of wall: the one between taxpayers and abortion-on-demand.

Step one came [yesterday] when the president put the brakes on overseas abortion funding. In a policy dating back to every Republican administration since Ronald Reagan’s, Donald Trump continued the tradition of blocking even a single U.S. cent from going to any foreign group that performs abortions or “actively promotes” abortion as a method of family planning in other countries. As White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer tweeted, “The President, it’s no secret, has made it very clear that he’s a pro-life president.” It was an important trust-building moment, as President Trump made it clear right out of the gate that he intends on keeping his pro-life promises. Not only does this help tear down the financial stronghold that groups like Planned Parenthood have on other nations, but it also sends a message to the world that America recognizes that all human beings have inherent worth and dignity. As we’ve pointed out before, nearly 60 percent of Trump voters were impacted by the Republican Party’s strong pro-life, pro-religious liberty platform. This executive order is perfectly in line with the GOP platform, which calls for the Mexico City Policy to be restored.

Now, House and Senate leaders are hoping they can do for America what President Trump just did overseas and turn off the taxpayer-funded spigots to abortion here at home. For the first time in years, Congress has the chance to pass the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act onto the desk of a president who would actually sign it. From Obama’s abortion surcharge to the contraception mandate, Americans are more involved than ever in the procedure that a majority oppose. H.R. 7 is the only way to end the forced partnership between the abortion industry and taxpayers. All Americans are asking for is government neutrality on the funding issue. If abortion is a “private choice,” as they say, then it shouldn’t receive public dollars.

The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion would make the Hyde Amendment permanent federal law and apply it across the government to ensure that, no matter which political party is in power, taxpayers won’t be on the hook for paying for other people’s abortions. That’s where you come in. Your Members of Congress need to hear from you! Please call them at 202-224-3121 and urge them to vote for H.R. 7, and when you’re done, email them too. Conservatives have eagerly awaited a new day in the White House for all Americans — including the unborn. This is your chance to help make that happen!

Originally published here.

This is a publication of the Family Research Council. Mr. Perkins is president of FRC.