In a special Rose Garden ceremony on Thursday, President Trump created the new Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty while celebrating the National Day of Prayer.
“In just a few moments, I’ll also be signing an executive order creating a Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty, which is really why we’re here more than any other reason,” the president said.
The White House released pictures from the event:
In his speech, the president also quoted President John Adams on the importance of his first National Day of Prayer:
The executive order declares,
“Americans need to be reacquainted with our Nation’s superb experiment in religious freedom in order to preserve it against emerging threats,” the order explains, adding,
The 14-member commission is intended to help the president by “offering diverse perspectives on how the Federal Government can defend religious liberty for all Americans.”
The commission is tasked with producing a comprehensive report on:
The foundations of religious liberty in America;
Strategies to increase awareness of and celebrate America’s peaceful religious pluralism;
Current threats to religious liberty; and
Strategies to preserve and enhance protections for future generations.
The report, according to First Liberty Institute, is due to be released on or before July 4, 2026 – the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the founding of America.
According to the White House, the commission will focus on several key areas, including parental rights in religious education, school choice, conscience protections, attacks on houses of worship, free speech for religious entities, and institutional autonomy.
The president named the following individuals to serve on the commission:
Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (Chair)
Dr. Ben Carson (Vice Chair)
Ryan T. Anderson
Bishop Robert Barron
Carrie Prejean Boller
Cardinal Timothy Dolan
Pastor Franklin Graham
Allyson Ho
Dr. Phil McGraw
Eric Metaxas
Kelly Shackelford
Rabbi Meir Soloveichik
Paula White
Kelly Shackelford, President, CEO & Chief Counsel of First Liberty Institute, issued a statement following his appointment.
“I am incredibly honored to be selected to join such a prestigious group of leaders on the Commission in President Trump’s effort to protect religious liberty in our nation,” Shackelford said, adding,
Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, and founder of Word On Fire, posted about his appointment on X:
Religious freedom is often referred to as our nation’s first freedom, since America was originally founded by Pilgrims seeking religious liberty.
According to a 2023 report by Becket, Americans’ support of religious freedom remains strong, with 59% of Americans saying that “religion is a part of the solution to America’s problems.”
Please pray for the new commission’s tasks ahead, and that it will help Americans continue to value and recognize the importance of religious liberty.
Related articles and resources:
Donald Trump, Tim Tebow, Conrad Hilton and the National Day of Prayer
Is David French Right — Is Our Religious Liberty Secure?
‘America’s Commitment to Religious Liberty Remains Strong,’ Religious Freedom Report Finds
What the Pilgrims did for Religious Liberty
The Heroic Heart of the Pilgrims
Photo from Getty Images.
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