In a huge show of support for the pro-life movement, President Donald Trump on Friday hosted a screening of Gosnell: The Trial of America’s Biggest Serial Killer at the White House.
Producers of the movie Ann McElhinney, Phelim McAleer, and Magdalena Segieda were giddy outside of the White House ahead of the screening.
“This is the first political film in the Trump White House,” said McAleer.
“It’s a very big deal, McElhinney exclaimed. “You saw the three of us five years ago asking you for help and look at the three of us now!”
“An overflow crowd of White House staff and anti-abortion advocates” viewed the movie, the Washington Examiner reported.
The Gosnell film tells the gruesome but true story of Philadelphia abortion butcher Dr. Kermit Gosnell, who was arrested and convicted for the first-degree murder of three born-alive babies, as well as the involuntary manslaughter of patient Karnamaya Mongar.
The true story is based “very heavily on actual court transcripts,” “dozens of hours of interviews” with Gosnell himself, and the case’s grand jury report.
The film highlights the shocking details of the original trial, such as Gosnell cutting the spinal cords of hundreds of newborns; witnesses describing infants who survived initial abortion attempts as “swimming” in toilets “to get out”; the feet of aborted babies stored in a freezer; and the mainstream media’s initial avoidance of the story.
The entire event “lasted about five hours” and included a Q&A with domestic policy advisor Joe Grogan and McElhinney.
Joe Grogan, Assistant to President Trump, and @GosnellMovie producer @annmcelhinney doing a Q&A after the screening of the #Gosnell movie at the White House this evening
What a historic evening for the #ProLife Movement!! pic.twitter.com/KtffE2OTYb
— Susan B. Anthony List (@SBAList) April 12, 2019
Grogan reportedly told the Gosnell movie screening audience that the administration is constantly looking for ways to curb abortion.
One focus is on the handling of a baby in the rare case it is born during an abortion.
The issue flooded into the public view after Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam was asked about pending legislation to allow very late-term abortions.
Northam, a pediatric surgeon, shocked the nation when he said in a radio interview that sometimes third-trimester abortions are done in cases where the fetus is possibly “nonviable.” In cases of botched abortions where the unwanted baby is delivered, the governor seemed to endorse infanticide: “The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired. And then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother,” he said.
Grogan reportedly told the audience that the president was “incredulous” over Northam’s comments.
“He said that Trump was really impacted by that. He couldn’t believe it,” a White House insider said, adding, “They come in every day and look at how they can legally stop abortion.”
In February, Trump reacted with disgust to the Democrats’ opposition to the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, tweeting: “Senate Democrats just voted against legislation to prevent the killing of newborn infant children. The Democrat position on abortion is now so extreme that they don’t mind executing babies AFTER birth….”
Senate Democrats just voted against legislation to prevent the killing of newborn infant children. The Democrat position on abortion is now so extreme that they don’t mind executing babies AFTER birth….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 26, 2019
One of the dozens of attendees at the Gosnell screening Friday told the Examiner that the president’s reaction to Northam “had a lot to do” with the movie being screened at the White House.
While Trump did not attend the Gosnell movie screening in the large auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, having the movie show inside the complex was a huge sign of support for the pro-life movement. Many in the movement have described Trump as the most pro-life president ever.
What a wonderful screening of the #GosnellMovie on Friday night! Thank you @realDonaldTrump! pic.twitter.com/gvp9weh0GJ
— Gosnell Movie (@GosnellMovie) April 14, 2019
On Fox News’ “The Story with Martha MacCallum” Tuesday evening, White House Counselor Kelleyanne Conway noted that even most people who consider themselves pro-abortion oppose “post-birth abortion.”
“I believe it was President Donald Trump who on October 19, 2016 — in that final debate in Las Vegas against Hillary Clinton — really got this conversation started in earnest and brought us to where we are now — the screening of Gosnell in his White House,” Conway explained.
“Because he was asked a question about abortion and he turned to Hillary Clinton and he said ‘you’re the extreme one on abortion. You are, because you would rip that baby out of his mother’s womb an hour before it’s born,” Conway said.
She noted that at the time many people in America “collectively went, ooh!” But now, she added, “they’re realizing it is done and it’s also done by Planned Parenthood, where they get a half billion a year in taxpayer money and give all their money to Democratic candidates. It’s outrageous!”
The Trump White House wants to see the Born Alive Abortion Survivor Protections Act passed in Congress, Conway told MacCallum.
“We will continue to fight for reasonable restrictions and regulations that are in line with a country that should value life,” she added.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member