This president doesn’t think small. From a border wall to beefing up the military, Donald Trump’s vision is like his larger-than-life personality. And for pro-lifers, who are used to some politicians doing the bare minimum, that’s been a pleasant surprise. They’ll be thrilled to know the administration went big on something else: the Mexico City Policy.

Wait a minute, some of you are thinking. Didn’t the president already reinstate it? He did — back in January. But Monday morning, the White House took a giant leap forward, outdoing Presidents Bush and even Reagan with the actual implementation of the rule. In a policy dating back to every Republican administration since Ronald Reagan’s, Trump continued the tradition of blocking even a single U.S. cent from going to any foreign group that performs or promotes abortion as “family planning” overseas. But unlike other administrations, this White House is significantly expanding how and where the rule is applied.

In what the president is calling the “Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance” policy, the administration is multiplying the impact well beyond the Department of State. For the first time ever, the White House isn’t just bringing $600 million in taxpayer funding under the authority of the pro-life rule, but $8.8 billion from the Departments of State, Health and Human Services, and Defense. That’s almost 15 times more money flowing through the abortion ban than President Bush’s policy! “I direct the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to the extent allowable by law, to implement a plan to extend the requirements of the reinstated Memorandum to global health assistance furnished by all departments or agencies…” President Trump wrote. “I further direct the Secretary of State to take all necessary actions, to the extent permitted by law, to ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars do not fund organizations or programs that support or participate in the management of a program of coercive abortion or involuntary sterilization.”

As one White House official told The Brody File, “The pro-life policy will apply to global health assistance funding for international health programs, such as those for HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health, malaria, global health security, and family planning and reproductive health.” As most people will tell you, the inclusion of the DOD is probably the single greatest change, since the order affects all global health assistance funding — not just “family planning” dollars. Talk about making an immediate impact! There’s no telling how many thousands of unborn lives this policy will save simply because Donald Trump dared to step out and do what 83 percent of Americans wanted: End taxpayer funding of overseas abortion groups.

As a Marist poll pointed out in January, Americans overwhelmingly support Trump’s move to slash tax dollars for abortion groups — even more so abroad (83 percent). In four short months, the new administration has systematically fulfilled a number of key campaign promises. The Mexico City Policy’s implementation should reassure everyone who’s questioned the merits of the president’s recent executive order on religious liberty. If conservatives doubt this president’s sincerity on the issue, they shouldn’t. At the very least, he deserves the chance to implement the order before people judge how effective it is. All he’s done these first 120 days is prove the critics wrong. I’m confident his religious freedom protections will be no different.

Originally published here.

Stature at Liberty

When President Trump chose the college to deliver his first commencement address, he couldn’t have picked a better one than Liberty University. And I’m not just saying that as LU alum! The message he delivered with that decision was just as important as the one he delivered at the podium. Once again, Donald Trump showed how much he values the Christian community and how committed he is to standing with them for the change they voted for in November. But the improbability of his win isn’t lost on the president either. With a wry smile, he told the crowd of 50,000, “It’s been a little over a year since I’ve spoken on your beautiful campus and so much has changed. Right here, the class of 2017 dressed in cap and gown, graduating to a totally brilliant future. And here I am standing before you as President of the United States, so I’m guessing — there are some people here today who thought that either one of those things, either one, would really require major help from God. Do we agree?”

And with that, President Trump kicked off a speech that could not have been better — not just for the graduates, but for every American hungry to see true freedom restored to their nation after eight long years of Barack Obama. The president didn’t shy away from those topics either. Throughout his talk, he touched on a number of issues close to evangelicals’ hearts. “America has always been the land of dreams because America is a nation of true believers,” he said. “When the pilgrims landed at Plymouth they prayed. When the Founders wrote the Declaration of Independence, they invoked our creator four times, because in America we don’t worship government we worship God. That is why our elected officials put their hands on the Bible and say, ‘So help me God,’ as they take the oath of office. It is why our currency proudly declares, ‘In God we trust,’ and it’s why we proudly proclaim that we are one nation under God every time we say the pledge of allegiance.”

To loud applause he promised, “We will always stand up for the right of all Americans to pray to God and to follow his teachings.” He wasn’t just speaking to Liberty grads, but to his largest base of support: evangelicals — who remain overwhelmingly supportive of the president. And his comments Saturday are a large reason why. “America is better when people put their faith into action. As long as I am your president, no one is ever going to stop you from practicing your faith or from preaching what’s in your heart.” And the administration is already taking steps to guarantee it. Not only is his rhetoric encouraging, but so is the record he’s building to back it up. We’ve seen him tackle his pro-life agenda with a passion few expected. We’ve watched him make good on his vow to defend religious liberty. And we’ve seen him appoint principled men and women as leaders at every level of government and the courts.

“Following your convictions means you must be willing to face criticism from those who lack the same courage to do what is right. Be true to yourself, your country, and your beliefs,” President Trump urged. “Always have the courage to be yourself.” If anyone has that courage, it’s this president. And we’re grateful for the ways he’s used it to advance our most cherished values. We look forward to seeing how this White House will continue defending religious liberty so that these graduates will have the freedom to do what the president challenged them.

For more on the significance of Trump’s address, check out my interview Monday morning with Shannon Bream on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom.”

Originally published here.

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