President Trump has established a Religious Liberty Commission to combat growing anti-Christian bias in America as leftist forces increasingly target faith-based freedoms across the nation.
Key Takeaways
- President Trump signed an executive order creating the Religious Liberty Commission to safeguard religious freedom in America, with Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as chair and Dr. Ben Carson as vice-chair.
- The commission will produce a comprehensive report on the history, current threats, and strategies for protecting religious liberty in the United States.
- Notable commission members include Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Pastor Franklin Graham, Eric Metaxas, Kelly Shackelford, and media personality Dr. Phil McGraw.
- The White House has simultaneously ordered the Justice Department to establish a task force specifically focused on combating anti-Christian bias.
- The commission will address critical issues including First Amendment rights, religious exemptions from vaccine mandates, parental rights in education, and voluntary prayer in public schools.
Restoring America’s Religious Heritage
President Trump has taken decisive action to protect religious liberty by establishing a Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty through an executive order. This landmark initiative acknowledges the growing threats to faith-based freedoms across America and sets up a formal mechanism to defend them. The commission will operate until July 4, 2026, unless extended, providing a critical bulwark against the onslaught of anti-religious policies that have flourished under previous administrations. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick will serve as commission chair, with former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson as vice-chair.
The executive order establishing the commission clearly articulates the historical importance of religious liberty, stating: “The Founders envisioned a Nation in which religious voices and views are integral to a vibrant public square and human flourishing and in which religious people and institutions are free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination or hostility from the Government.” This foundational principle has been increasingly under attack from progressive forces seeking to marginalize religious expression in public life. The commission’s creation signals a dramatic shift back toward constitutional protections for people of faith.
**Establishment of the Religious Liberty Commission**
On May 1, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order to establish the Religious Liberty Commission. This commission will serve as a vital tool in protecting religious freedom in America, which has been under…
— executiveordersx (@execorderstrump) May 1, 2025
Distinguished Membership and Critical Mission
The commission’s membership includes an impressive roster of religious leaders and advocates who have long championed faith-based freedoms. In addition to Lt. Gov. Patrick and Dr. Carson, members include Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Pastor Franklin Graham, Eric Metaxas, Kelly Shackelford, Ryan T. Anderson, and even media personality Dr. Phil McGraw. These appointments demonstrate the administration’s serious commitment to addressing religious liberty from multiple perspectives and with credible voices who understand the challenges facing religious Americans.
“For too long, government officials have been hostile to expressions of faith… It will be a privilege to do everything we can to protect religious liberty and restore our First Freedom for all Americans,” said Kelly Shackelford, President of First Liberty Institute.
The commission will focus on several critical issues, including protecting First Amendment rights, addressing religious exemptions for vaccine mandates, defending parental rights in education, and supporting voluntary prayer in public schools. These topics reflect real concerns for millions of religious Americans who have seen their rights eroded by progressive policies. The commission’s work will culminate in a comprehensive report on the history of religious liberty in America, current threats to religious freedom, and strategies for protecting these essential rights.
Defending the Faithful Against Progressive Attacks
President Trump’s decision to create this commission is supported by compelling data showing widespread concerns about religious discrimination. The Public Religion Research Institute found that two-thirds of white evangelicals believe Christians face discrimination in America today. This perception is borne out by numerous cases of religious people and institutions being targeted for their beliefs, especially on issues like marriage, sexuality, and the sanctity of life. The commission represents a strategic response to these legitimate concerns.
“We will carry out the president’s important mission to preserve and strengthen religious liberty in our country. I thank President Trump for his steadfast commitment to ensuring our nation returns to our founding principles of faith and religious liberty,” stated Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick
In a parallel move, the White House has also directed the Justice Department to establish a task force specifically focused on anti-Christian bias, representing a comprehensive approach to addressing religious liberty concerns. This broader strategy builds on historical precedents, including President Franklin Roosevelt’s expansion of military chaplains in the 1940s and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom established under President Clinton in 1998. Unlike previous administrations that merely paid lip service to religious liberty while allowing progressive ideology to dominate policy, President Trump has consistently demonstrated a commitment to concrete action protecting people of faith.
America’s Return to Faith
During the signing ceremony, President Trump succinctly summarized the significance of this initiative, declaring, “We’re bringing religion back to our country. It’s a big deal.” This statement reflects the administration’s understanding that religious liberty is not merely one right among many but a cornerstone of American freedom. By establishing this commission, President Trump has taken concrete steps to reverse years of progressive policies that have marginalized faith communities and treated religious beliefs as obstacles to be overcome rather than principles to be protected.
“It shall be the policy of the executive branch to vigorously enforce the historic and robust protections for religious liberty enshrined in Federal law,” states the executive.
While critics like Rev. Shannon Fleck and Bishop Dwayne Royster have predictably attacked the commission as potentially increasing “bullying in schools, workplace conflict and religious discrimination,” these claims ring hollow when compared to the actual threats religious Americans face daily. From forcing religious business owners to violate their beliefs to attempting to compel faith-based adoption agencies to place children with same-sex couples, progressive policies have consistently trampled religious liberty in the service of ideological agendas. President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission represents a long-overdue correction to protect the First Freedom enshrined in our Constitution.
