Trump launches commission on religious liberty

WASHINGTON—In a Rose Garden ceremony at the White House, President Donald Trump announced the formation of a presidential commission on religious liberty. The president said the commission will continue to combat anti-Christian bias in the country, working with the White House Faith Office.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who will lead the commission, spoke briefly, describing the initiative as one of Trump’s most influential to date. White House Faith Office director Paula White-Cain said the commission will hold meetings in the White House along with her team. Trump had hinted in February at his plan to create the group during remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast.

“We were a nation birthed by prayer, founded on the [Christian and Jewish traditions] to ensure that people could worship as they wished without interference from government,” Patrick said, claiming the Biden administration interfered with religion. “There’s a saying that no one should get between a doctor and a patient. I think we would say no one should get between God and a believer.”

Who is on the religious liberty commission? On Thursday evening, the White House announced the following list of members:

• Dan Patrick - Texas lieutenant governor and committee chair
• Ben Carson - A neurosurgeon and former U.S. secretary of Housing and Urban Development
• Ryan Anderson - President of the Ethics and Public Policy Center
• Bishop Robert Barron - Author, speaker, and theologian
• Carrie Prejean Boller - Former Miss California USA, Miss USA first runner-up in 2009, and author
• Cardinal Timothy Dolan - The Archbishop of New York
• Franklin Graham - Son of the late Rev. Billy Graham, president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) and of Samaritan’s Purse
• Allyson Ho - Partner at Gibson, Dunn, & Crutcher
• Dr Phil McGraw - TV personality and bestselling author
• Eric Metaxas - Writer, speaker, and radio host
• Kelly Shackelford - President and Chief Executive Officer of First Liberty Institute
• Rabbi Meir Soloveichik - Rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel—the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States
• Paula White-Cain - Founder and president of Paula White Ministries and the National Faith Advisory Board

Who else spoke at the Rose Garden ceremony? The president invited several religious leaders to pray at the podium, including American prelate of the Catholic Church Bishop Robert Barron, Rabbi Levi Shemtov, Muslim Air Force chaplain Imam Walid Habash and Florida pastor Pastor Kelvin Cobaris. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., also offered a prayer.

What else did Trump talk about? The president covered a range of issues during the hour-long event. He said he was late for the ceremony because he was meeting with House leaders to get an update on the tax bill slated for passage this summer. “We love that bill. I won't like it if it doesn't pass, neither will you,” Trump said, claiming that failure to pass the bill would increase taxes for Americans by 68%. He said the prayer event was a proper place to bring up taxes because, “this is a religious ceremony to me, but that's part of the religion, because if your taxes go up 68% you might give up your religion.” Trump insisted the bill will not cut Medicaid. He also said he was looking forward to hosting the World Cup, the Olympics, and the nation’s 250th birthday in the coming year. Additionally, Trump called TV personality Dr. Phil McGraw to the podium to discuss religious liberty.

Trump also called out several cabinet members in attendance and praised their work, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz was not in attendance amid reports that he is leaving the administration. Trump did not respond to media questions on whether he has fired Waltz but posted less than an hour later that he is nominating Waltz to be ambassador to the United Nations. According to his post on Truth Social, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as interim national security adviser. 

Dig deeper: Read my report on why the White House is standing by Hegseth despite allegations that he’s mishandled classified information.