President Donald Trump has announced the creation of a White House faith office aimed at addressing what he calls growing “anti-Christian bias” within the federal government. Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, he introduced several measures to safeguard religious freedom, including a dedicated task force and a Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty.
“While I’m in the White House, we will protect Christians in our schools, in our military, in our government, in our workplaces, hospitals, and in our public squares,” Trump declared. “And we will bring our country back together as one nation under God.”
Task Force to Investigate Religious Discrimination
In his speech, Trump announced a task force to investigate religious discrimination. He appointed former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to head the initiative and ordered her to stop all anti-Christian targeting in federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The task force will also prosecute acts of anti-Christian violence and vandalism. Trump pointed to the example of Paulette Harlow, an anti-abortion activist in prison for praying outside an abortion clinic, and cited it as an example of religious discrimination. “We will move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide,” he asserted.
Trump had pardoned 23 anti-abortion activists, including Harlow, arguing that they had been unfairly targeted by federal law enforcement for their religious beliefs.
White House Faith Office
As part of his broader religious initiative, Trump announced the launch of a White House faith office. He appointed televangelist Paula White to lead the office, a controversial figure associated with the prosperity gospel movement.
Her appointment caused mixed feelings, as a number of leaders within the Christian world criticized her theology. The president still hailed her as competent enough to spearhead the department and advocate religious issues throughout America.
President Trump’s spiritual advisor, false Bible teacher, Paula White pic.twitter.com/QEytsktvBr
— Terri Green (@TerriGreenUSA) February 6, 2025
Trump said, “It changed something in me.” “I feel even stronger. I believed in God but feel much more strongly about it.” This religious initiative is nothing new for Donald Trump. A similar office exists during his previous term. Besides, he consistently consulted a closely knit group of evangelical advisors then.
The Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty
Besides the faith office, Trump also launched a Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty. The commission will collaborate with the faith office to safeguard religious rights across the country. He signed an executive order directing the new task force to identify unlawful policies and recommend legislative actions to uphold religious freedoms.
Is Anti-Christian Bias Increasing in America?
Trump’s focus on anti-Christian bias differs from the Biden administration’s emphasis on combating Islamophobia and antisemitism. While Christians remain the largest religious group in the U.S., some legal experts acknowledge instances where their rights were not adequately protected.
According to law and religion expert Dr. Michael A. Helfand, the Supreme Court has already sided with Christians in cases like Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission and Fulton v. Philadelphia, where the court determined that Christian beliefs were not respected.
A 2023 Survey Center on American Life survey found that 60% of White evangelicals, the core religious group that supports Trump, believe they are discriminated against in America. Helfand proposed a government task force to examine such claims more closely.
