Vice President JD Vance said Friday it is "a joy and a blessing to fight for the unborn" as he addressed pro-life activists at the annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C. 

"We march to live out the sacred truth that every single child is a miracle and a gift from God," Vance told the crowd at the National Mall in his first public appearance since being sworn in as vice president earlier this week.

Vance praised the marchers who braved bitter cold temperatures to be there, noting that Monday’s inauguration had to be moved inside because of the weather. 

"But you guys — and it’s bitter cold today — here you are outside in an especially frigid January, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a joyful crowd out here, particularly during this time of year," he said. "The excitement, the passion, the unwavering conviction that every single person here on the National Mall clearly feels, it is deeply moving to me and means more to President Trump and I than I could possibly say." 

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He added that it has been the "single greatest blessing" of his and wife Usha's lives to watch their three young children "grow, learn and become who they are today.

"Every parent here knows that feeling, that awe of a newborn child. It is our responsibility to cherish and to protect it," he added. 

Vance also talked about bringing a focus on family back to the center of American life, saying the "benchmark of national success" is "whether people feel that they can raise thriving and healthy families in our country."

The vice president vowed that the federal government will not "direct FBI raids" on homes of pro-lifers, mentioning Mark Houck, a pro-life activist whose home was raided. 

Vance also said the era of putting pro-lifers in jail was over, mentioning President Trump’s decision to pardon multiple activists.

"I want more babies in the United States of America. I want more happy children in our country, and I want beautiful young men and women who are eager to welcome them into the world and eager to raise them," Vance said. 

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However, he admitted young couples face challenges when having kids, and he called on the government to take action to make it "easier to raise a family."

Prior to Vance’s speech, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told the crowd, "House and Senate Republicans are committed to protecting innocent life."

"For two decades before I was elected to Congress, I served as a constitutional law attorney, and I litigated cases to defend our fundamental freedoms like religious liberty and the sanctity of human life. And now, in this role that I have as speaker of the House, I'm working to defend those freedoms in a different way," Johnson said. 

"And the good news is, there are many leaders here in Congress, just like the ones standing behind us here, who are committed to doing that same thing.

"This new White House has already shown its resolve," Johnson added. "As one of his first official acts, President Trump just freed and pardoned nearly two dozen wrongfully imprisoned pro-life activists."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis urged attendees at the event to push their elected officials to "show courage in defense of the unborn.

"That's what we need from the people that we elect to the office. The sanctity of life does not depend on poll results. It doesn't depend on which way the wind is blowing," DeSantis said. 

"It's an enduring truth, and it represents the foundation of our society, which in our original founding document, which we will celebrate next year, the Declaration of Independence, declared that we hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and we are endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights, beginning with the right to life itself."

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Also appearing at the event were senators John Thune of South Dakota, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Katie Britt of Alabama, Joni Ernst of Iowa, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, and representatives Andy Biggs of Arizona, Julie Fedorchak of North Dakota, Andy Harris of Maryland, Bob Latta of Ohio, John McGuire of Virginia, Bob Onder of Missouri, Chris Smith of New Jersey and Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin, all Republicans.

Thousands of mainly female protesters descended on Washington, D.C. to protest President–elect Trump’s inauguration on Monday. However, the crowd is only a tenth of the half a million who turned out for the "Women’s March" in 2017.

Saturday’s march, rebranded as the "People’s March," is taking place at three different locations with demonstrators advocating for a wide range of left-wing causes and showcasing a united front to the new administration. 

This morning, a kickoff event took place in Franklin Park for "gender justice" and bodily autonomy, and then demonstrators walked downtown before making their way towards the Lincoln Memorial for the day's main event. 

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"It’s really healing to be here with all of you today in solidarity and togetherness, in the face of what’s going to be some really horrible extremism," Mini Timmaraju, the head of advocacy group Reproductive Freedom for All, told the crowd as events kicked off.

Other protesters gathered at two other parks also near the White House, with one group focused on democracy and immigration and another on local Washington issues, 

Vendors hawked buttons that said #MeToo and "Love trumps hate," and sold People's March flags for $10. Demonstrators carried posters that read "Feminists v. Fascists" and "People over politics."

Lillian Fenske, 31, drove six hours from Greensboro, North Carolina, to participate. Her signs expressed concern over oligarchs and the disunity. "America is not for sale," said one, while another said simply, "Divided We Fall."

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There is a heavy police presence, although law enforcement is not expecting a repeat of the violent scenes seen across the city ahead of Inauguration Day in 2017, where protesters shattered glass storefronts and torched cars, with police arresting more than 200 people in demonstrations that spanned several days.

The enthusiasm behind the so-called resistance movement to Trump has waned somewhat, with many progressive voters expressing feelings of exhaustion and disappointment following Trump’s landslide win in November. He dominated both the Electoral College and the popular vote to defeat Vice President Kamala Harris after a historic campaign cycle. 

The 2017 Women’s March took place on the day after Trump’s inauguration. Celebrities like America Ferrera, Madonna, Ashley Judd, Cher, Katy Perry, Amy Schumer, Scarlett Johansson, Julianne Moore, Michael Moore, Debra Messing, Patricia Arquette and others attended the march.

President-elect Trump is expected to leave Mar-a-Lago later today and head to Washington.

Trump’s advisers have not detailed how he will spend the first part of the day, and the only public event on Trump’s schedule is an evening reception and fireworks show at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.

On Sunday, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery and a "Make America Great Again" rally, at which Trump will deliver remarks, followed by a candlelit dinner. 

Monday is Inauguration Day when Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will participate in the swearing-in ceremony, which has been moved indoors due to the forecasted frigid temperatures. 

Fox News’ Brooke Singman, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.