WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he will make a special faith office in the White House. He also said Attorney General Pam Bondi will lead a task force to stop what he calls ANTI-CHRISTIAN BIAS in the federal government.
Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Trump talked about unity and shared how his faith has grown, especially after surviving two assassination attempts last year.
Later, at another prayer event, Trump took a stronger stance. He said he had "gotten rid of woke" recently and promised to protect Christians from discrimination.
"This task force will work to stop all anti-Christian discrimination in the federal government," Trump said. "That includes the Department of Justice (DOJ), the IRS, the FBI, and other agencies."
He also said his attorney general will make sure those who commit violence or vandalism against Christians are fully punished. "We will do everything possible to protect Christians and religious believers across the country," he added.
Trump did not give specific examples of anti-Christian bias but has previously accused President Joe Biden’s administration of unfairly targeting Christians.
On the same day, Trump signed an executive order to officially create the task force. Its job will be to find and remove any government policies or actions that go against Christian beliefs.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has taken steps to protect other religious groups. In December, Biden announced a plan to fight anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination, and in September 2023, his government launched a strategy to combat antisemitism.
Some experts say Trump's new plan could raise legal concerns about the separation of church and state. The U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment prevents the government from favoring one religion over others.
Trump, who has strong support from conservative Christians, often says that God saved him for a reason after he survived an assassination attempt. "Many people tell me God spared my life for a purpose," he has said at different events.
White evangelical Christians, a key group of Republican voters, have supported Trump in recent elections. He has backed policies that align with their beliefs, including their concerns about gender roles and family values.
During his speech, Trump also announced the creation of a new White House Faith Office. Rev. Paula White, his longtime spiritual adviser, will lead the office.
This is not the first time Trump has set up such an office. He created a similar faith office during his first term and often met with evangelical leaders.
Additionally, Trump said he will launch a commission on religious liberty. He accused Biden’s administration of "persecuting" religious people by prosecuting anti-abortion activists.
"If we don’t have religious freedom, we don’t have a free country," Trump said.
The National Prayer Breakfast has changed in recent years. In 2023, it was split into two separate events: one for lawmakers at Capitol Hill and another private gathering at a hotel.
This change happened after concerns were raised about how the private religious group behind the event was being run and funded.