DONALD Trump will become the first US president to address an anti-abortion march in 45 years on Friday.

The move highlights his shift in recent years from a supporter of women's access to abortion to, now, a powerful opponent.

3 Donald Trump will become the first president in 45 years to address an anti-abortion rally on Friday Credit: Reuters

Trump is due to address the march in Washington via satellite from the White House Rose Garden on Friday afternoon.

Ronald Reagan, Trump's fellow Republican, made supportive remarks to the march in 1987 via telephone, while George W. Bush, another Republican, twice did the same, in 2003 and 2004.

"The President is committed to protecting the life of the unborn, and he is excited to be part of this historic event," Sarah Sanders, the White House press secretary, told reporters on Wednesday.

Trump was previously a supporter of women's access to abortion.

Donald Trump will be first US president in 45 years to speak at pro-life march

3 Trump is due to address the march in Washington via satellite from the White House Rose Garden Credit: AFP or licensors

In an interview in 1999, when he was still a celebrity real-estate tycoon in New York City, he said he "hated the concept of abortion" and was "very pro-choice".

Organizers of the march, the largest anti-abortion event in the country, praised Trump for his policies on restricting abortion access.

These policies include efforts to eliminate federal funding to groups providing abortions.

Trump sent Vice President Mike Pence, a vocal abortion opponent, to speak at last year's march, a few days after the presidential inauguration.

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3 In an interview in 1999, when he was still a celebrity real-estate tycoon in New York City, he said he "hated the concept of abortion" Credit: PA:Press Association

Trump has also pledged to appoint more judges that support the overturning of Roe vs Wade.

That 1973 Supreme Court decision affirmed a woman's right to an abortion at most stages of a pregnancy, effectively legalising the procedure nationwide.

The March for Life, where tens of thousands of people seeking to overturn that decision gather at the National Mall before rallying at the Supreme Court steps, is held close to the anniversary of the Roe vs Wade ruling.

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Paul Ryan, the Republican speaker of U.S. House of Representatives, will also address the march, now in its 45th year.

As a Republican candidate for the presidency in 2016, Trump said his position had "evolved," describing himself as "pro-life with exceptions," such as in cases of rape or incest.

Trump has said he hopes Roe vs Wade will eventually be overturned and that each state would instead be allowed to decide whether to ban the procedure.