While Trump Touts “Religious Liberty,” His Administration is the Biggest Threat to Faith Communities

Interfaith Alliance, a national leader in defending civil rights and multi-faith democracy, is outraged by President Trump’s speech today claiming to advocate for the importance of religious liberty – while his administration continues to target and demonize religious communities and organizations not in lockstep with their political agenda.  

Trump’s “Religious Liberty Commission” is chaired by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a vocal Christian nationalist. Commissioner Paula White, Trump’s “chief faith advisor, sells followers “supernatural blessings,” while commissioner Eric Metaxas has called President Trump’s political opponents “demonic” and the Democratic party “an instrument of wicked spirits."

In his speech, Trump showed once again that he views religion as a tool to drive his personal political power. He reiterated the claim that “God wanted him to win” his elections – and incorrectly insisted that his administration “got rid of the Johnson amendment,” longstanding federal law that protects nonprofits from partisan politics by prohibiting houses of worship and other nonprofits from endorsing candidates. He once again pushed the dangerous false notion that pervasive “anti-Christian bias” exists in the United States. 

Reverend Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, released the following statement following the president’s speech:

“The most pressing threat to religious liberty in our country today is the Trump administration itself. Religious Americans don’t need their protection – we need protection from their attacks. From attacking bishops who refuse to comply with their authoritarian actions, to giving the greenlight for ICE to desecrate houses of worship, to pushing the misuse of the Bible and Ten Commandments in our public schools, to creating a deeply unpopular national voucher scheme, the Trump administration is trampling on the freedom of all Americans to practice their faith free from government interference. 

“This administration is using ‘religious liberty’ as a pretext to push one extreme, unpopular Christian nationalist agenda onto all Americans, infringing on fundamental rights and undercutting the promise of our country as a diverse, multi-faith democracy. They are exploiting religion as a weapon to target vulnerable minorities, including trans gender Americans and immigrants. All those who don’t conform to their narrow doctrine are targeted. That’s why so many Americans of diverse faiths and beliefs – including millions of Christians – continue to push back against the White House’s extreme agenda.

“Faith leaders refuse to remain silent as the Trump administration targets our communities, infringes on our rights, and then absurdly claims to care about our liberty. We’re mobilizing to oppose authoritarianism and make clear that the large majority of organized religion stands on the side of democracy, diversity and equality for all people in this country.”

Interfaith Alliance is hosting two major summits this month that focus on the role that religious communities can play in challenging white supremacy and Christian nationalism. 

MEDIA CONTACT - Ben DePasquale, bdepasquale@westendstrategy.com

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‍Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information, visit interfaithalliance.org.