Pence laments pro-life principles 'fell short' at RNC, thanks delegates for 'noble' fight

FIRST ON FOX – Former Vice President Mike Pence sent letters to pro-life Republican National Convention delegates who worked to amplify pro-life issues on the GOP's 2024 platform that ultimately softened its language on abortion.

"As you battled to restore the pro-life platform, you were an inspiration to millions of pro-life Americans, who remain profoundly disappointed by the Republican Party’s decision to water down the previously strong pro-life platform for political expediency," Pence wrote in the Tuesday letters.

"While we ultimately fell short in our noble effort to restore the historic pro-life principles included in the 2016 and 2020 platforms, we did so with moral clarity and compassion about advancing the cause of life," he continued in a letter exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital.

The GOP platform this election cycle notably only mentions abortion once, instead focusing on the preservation of life and returning power to the states when developing laws surrounding abortion. In 2016, when Pence ran as Trump's running mate, the GOP platform used the word "abortion" 35 times.

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The softening of language surrounding abortion this year sparked some condemnation from those in the pro-life movement, including Pence.

"Now is not the time to surrender any ground in the fight for the right to life. The 2024 platform removed historic pro-life principles that have long been the foundation of the platform. I urge delegates attending next week's Republican Convention to restore language to our party's platform recognizing the sanctity of human life and affirming that the unborn child has a fundamental right to life which cannot be infringed,"