WASHINGTON, D.C. – This morning, President Donald Trump announced the creation of a White House Faith Office and the formation of a task force dedicated to eliminating what he described as “anti-Christian bias” within the federal government. The executive orders will be forthcoming.
Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast at the U.S. Capitol, Trump called for “unity” and reflected on how his faith had evolved, particularly after surviving two assassination attempts last year.
Official portrait of President Donald J. Trump, Friday, October 6, 2017. (Official White House photo by Shealah Craighead – Public Domain)
At a second prayer breakfast this morning, he adopted a more concerning tone, celebrating recent policy moves against “woke” culture and outlining measures to protect Christians from what he characterized as religious discrimination. “The mission of this task force will be to immediately hold all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government, including at the DOJ, which was absolutely terrible, the IRS, the FBI, and other agencies,” President Trump said.
He proceeded to assign the task of creating the office to the new Attorney General who was confirmed yesterday by the U.S. Senate. “To confront such weaponization and religious persecution, today I’m signing an executive order appointing our Attorney General—who’s a great person—Pam Bondi, as head of a brand-new task force to eradicate anti-Christian bias,” Trump declared. “About time, right? You always hear about other forms of bias, but never anti-Christian bias.”
Trump claimed the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the IRS had unfairly targeted Christians. “This task force will work to immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government,” he said, emphasizing that it would also ensure full prosecution of anti-Christian violence and vandalism.
While Trump did not cite specific instances of anti-Christian bias, he has frequently accused the former Biden administration of using federal agencies to target Christian communities. “While I’m in the White House, we will protect Christians in our schools, military, government, workplaces, hospitals, and public squares,” he vowed. “And we will bring our country back together as one nation under God.”
Trump also announced the re-establishment of a White House Faith Office, to be led by Rev. Paula White, an American televangelist and apostolic leader in the Independent Charismatic movement who he says is his longtime spiritual adviser. A similar office existed during his first term, where he regularly consulted with evangelical leaders. Additionally, he revealed plans for a new commission on religious liberty, denouncing the Biden administration for what he called the “persecution” of religious believers, particularly in cases involving anti-abortion activists.
(U.S. Air Force graphic)
Rev. White is a proponent of prosperity theology and has faced criticism from theologians and conservative evangelical leaders for her beliefs. Christian author Erick Erickson notably criticized her for affirming a statement suggesting that Jesus was not the only son of God. Additionally, Rev. White has been accused of misrepresenting her academic credentials by claiming to hold a doctoral degree despite not having attended college or seminary.
White has denied accusations of heresy and other criticisms. In a CNN interview in 2017, she addressed the allegations, stating, “I have been called a heretic, an apostate, an adulterer, a charlatan, and an addict. It has been falsely reported that I once filed for bankruptcy and that I deny the Trinity! My life and my decisions have been nowhere near perfect, though nothing like what has been falsely conveyed in recent days.”
The announcement comes amid ongoing debates about the role of religion in government, raising potential constitutional concerns regarding the separation of church and state. The First Amendment prohibits government endorsement of religion, and legal experts may scrutinize the implications of these actions.
Trump has increasingly tied his political identity to Christian conservatism, often framing his survival from last year’s assassination attempt as an act of divine intervention. “Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason,” he has frequently said in his speeches to supporters.
His strong support among White evangelical voters has remained a cornerstone of his political base. In recent election cycles, many conservative Christians have embraced his message, which aligns with concerns over shifting gender norms, family structures, and religious freedom.
“You get it now. First time you’ve had it. If we don’t have religious liberty, then we don’t have a free country,” Trump asserted. “We probably don’t even have a country.”
The statement appears to apply only to Christian denominations. Trump’s latest moves signal his continued alignment with conservative Christian priorities, setting the stage for further debate over religious liberty, government policy, and the intersection of faith and politics in the U.S.
The Wild Hunt has expressed previous concerns about growing Christian dominion theology and its potential effects on the Pagan community as well as efforts to link the need to protect Christians and children as a facade against mintory religions and spiritual practices.
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