Yesterday, President Trump gave a 30-minute address (
full text) to the 2017 Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C., becoming the first sitting President to address the annual event. His remarks focused largely on themes of faith and of religious liberty. Here are some excerpts:
George Washington said that “religion and morality are indispensable” to America’s happiness, really, prosperity and totally to its success. It is our faith and our values that inspires us to give with charity, to act with courage, and to sacrifice for what we know is right.
The American Founders invoked our Creator four times in the Declaration of Independence -- four times. (Applause.) How times have changed. But you know what, now they're changing back again. Just remember that. (Applause.)
Benjamin Franklin reminded his colleagues at the Constitutional Convention to begin by bowing their heads in prayer.
Religious liberty is enshrined in the very first amendment of the Bill of Rights. And we all pledge allegiance to -- very, very beautifully -- “one nation under God.” (Applause.)
This is America’s heritage, a country that never forgets that we are all -- all, every one of us -- made by the same God in Heaven. (Applause.) ....
We have also taken action to protect the conscience rights of groups like the Little Sisters of the Poor. You know what they went through. (Applause.) What they went through -- they were going through hell. And then all of the sudden they won. They said, how did that happen? (Laughter.)
We want to really point out that the Little Sisters of the Poor and other people of faith, they live by a beautiful calling, and we will not let bureaucrats take away that calling or take away their rights. (Applause.)
We are stopping cold the attacks on Judeo-Christian values. (Applause.) Thank you. Thank you very much. And something I've said so much during the last two years, but I'll say it again as we approach the end of the year. You know, we're getting near that beautiful Christmas season that people don't talk about anymore. (Laughter.) They don't use the word "Christmas" because it's not politically correct. You go to department stores, and they'll say, "Happy New Year" and they'll say other things. And it will be red, they'll have it painted, but they don't say it. Well, guess what? We're saying “Merry Christmas” again. (Applause.)
