Trump Honors Memory of First U.S.-Born Martyr Beatified by the Catholic Church

Yesterday, the White House posted a Presidential Message on the 45th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of Father Stanley Rother (full text). It reads in part:

Today, Melania and I join with American Catholics and people of faith all across the world in honoring the towering legacy of Father Stanley Rother—an Oklahoma farm boy, the first American-born martyr beatified by the Catholic Church, and a champion of human dignity who heroically laid down his life to bring the light of Jesus Christ to a people plagued by horrific darkness....

In 1968, just years after his ordination, Father Rother answered God’s call to missionary life, departing the United States for the war-torn highlands of Guatemala, then ravaged by conflict.  Though thousands of Catholics were forcibly disappeared and viciously murdered during the Guatemalan Civil War, Father Rother nonetheless spent 13 years bringing the Gospel to those devastated by poverty and violence—translating sacred Scripture and helping to build a school, a hospital, and the region’s first Catholic radio station—fearlessly embodying Christ’s commission to “make disciples of all nations.”...

Today, we are reminded that Father Rother’s life and martyrdom are the fruits of America’s rich tradition of religious liberty.  In his honor, we recommit to remaining vigilant so that our birthright of freedom endures in the face of every trial.  We acknowledge with deep pride that America’s missionary zeal and generous spirit were, are, and will continue to be among the greatest forces of peace, justice, and flourishing in human history....

Challenge To Makeup of Religious Liberty Commission Is Dismissed

 In The Interfaith Alliance v. Trump, (SD NY, July 27, 2026), a New York federal district court dismissed a suit brought by several religious organizations challenging the composition of President Trump's Religious Liberty Commission. Plaintiffs contended that the makeup of the Commission violates the Federal Advisory Committee Act which, among other things, requires membership on federal advisory committees to be “fairly balanced” in light of the functions the committee performs. Plaintiffs (which include organizations representing the Muslim, Hindu and Sikh communities) contended that the Commission contains no members who represent non-Judeo-Christian religious traditions and that the Commission is unbalanced in its representation of views on separation of church and state. The court said in part:

FACA requires that a “[c]ommittee’s members represent a fair balance of viewpoints given the functions to be performed,” but it does not define what constitutes a “fair balance.” ...  As such, the statute leaves unanswered three sets of questions regarding whether a committee is appropriately balanced.  First, “even before the points of view on an advisory committee can be balanced at all,” one must ask: “which points of view should be balanced[?]”...  The next question is: “what constitutes an appropriate or ‘fair’ balance of those views[?]”... Is a single member representing each view enough, or does a committee need more?  And finally, “which kind of organization or individual legitimately represents” a viewpoint by being a member of a committee?... For example, what kind of individual would hypothetically speak for an “interfaith perspective”? 

Lacking clear answers to these questions, courts have been “highly deferential” in reviewing a committee’s composition....

FACA is properly read as requiring such strong deference for two reasons.  First, determining whether a committee is fairly balanced is largely “a political task not properly undertaken by life-tenured, unelected federal judges,”...

Second, it is notable that “as part of [a] compromise [in FACA’s enactment], Congress deleted from the Act any specific standards” governing committee membership....

Under this deferential standard, the RLC’s membership is fairly balanced.  Its members include workers in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, have widely varying life experiences—from a former host of a popular television show to a State Lieutenant Governor, are religious leaders as well as rank-and-file congregants, and—to the extent that it matters—encompass adherents of at least five different religions....

It was certainly within President Trump’s discretion to decide that it was comparatively more important to prioritize balancing whether the RLC’s members were “representatives of various sectors of society, including the private sector, employers, educational institutions, religious communities, and States.”...

The Court also rejects the premise that there is a single “Judeo-Christian” viewpoint....

AP reports on the decision.

White House Posts Presidential Message on Birthday of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini

Yesterday, the White House posted a "Presidential Message on the Birthday of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini," which reads in part:

... Arriving in New York City in 1889 with nothing but their unshakable faith in Almighty God, Mother Cabrini and her sisters opened hospitals, orphanages, and schools that comforted the sick, cared for children, and provided for the weary.  Mother Cabrini’s work rekindled the faith of thousands of Catholics and prepared generations to flourish as proud Americans....

...  Her tireless pursuit of the common good, her unceasing devotion to Jesus Christ, and her measureless generosity embody the very virtues that have made America the greatest force for good the world has ever known.

In recognition of her incredible life of service to God and country, Pope Pius XII canonized Mother Cabrini in 1946, making her the first American citizen ever proclaimed as a Catholic saint.  As we celebrate her enduring legacy today, we pledge to safeguard the precious freedoms she cherished so deeply, to usher in a historic resurgence of faith across our land, and to steward the full glory of the American promise for generations to come.

Artist's Suit Over Removal of Trump with Jesus Painting Is Dismissed

In Rose v. Arts Bonita, Inc., (MD FL, July 12, 2026), a Florida federal district court dismissed, with leave to amend, a complaint against the city and the organizer of an art festival held in a public park in Bonita Springs, Florida. A painting of Jesus blessing President Trump, displayed at the festival by plaintiff Julia Rose, was removed by the festival organizer and Rose was told to leave. The court said in part:

To start, Rose has not alleged that the City took any direct action to infringe on her First Amendment rights. The City itself was not at the art festival. Rose does not claim that municipal employees asked her to leave, nor does she suggest they had any problem with her art. Instead, her grievance lies against a private organization and its director....

... [E]ven if the art festival's conduct could somehow be pinned on the City, Rose's claim runs into another wall. A municipality cannot be held liable simply because it ... permits an event whose organizers allegedly violate the Constitution. There is no respondeat superior liability for civil rights violations....

The court rejected plaintiff's claim under the Florida Religious Freedom Restoration Act, saying in part:

To be sure, getting removed from an art show because of religious content might look and feel like discrimination. But there is a fundamental difference between an act of discrimination and a government-imposed burden on the exercise of religion. ...

The Court concluded:

... [T]he Court cannot say a more carefully drafted pleading would be entirely devoid of merit. When a pro se plaintiff's complaint falls short, she generally gets another bite at the apple if a better-drafted version might state a claim.... So while the City's motion to dismiss is granted, the door is not slammed shut. Rose may file an amended complaint within fourteen days of this order.

President Issues Message on Catholic Bishops' Honoring of US 250th Anniversary

Yesterday the White House posted a Presidential Message on U.S. Catholic Bishops Honoring the 250th Anniversary of American Independence (full text). The Message reads in part:

Today, Melania and I join in prayer with Catholic Bishops gathered in Orlando, Florida, as they consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the occasion of our 250th year of American Independence—a powerful moment in our national story and a poignant reminder that America has always been guided by the loving hand of God....

This year’s Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus also fittingly marks the anniversary of one of the most momentous days in Western civilization’s long twilight struggle against atheistic communism.  On June 12, 1987, President Ronald Reagan delivered his historic address at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, in which he famously implored Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.”

Toward the end of his remarks, President Reagan identified what he called “the most fundamental distinction of all between East and West:  The totalitarian world produces backwardness because it does such violence to the spirit, thwarting the human impulse to create, to enjoy, to worship.”...

Thanks to the moral leadership of President Reagan and Pope Saint John Paul II, the tireless work and determination of free men and women around the world, and the moral witness of millions who endured prolonged suffering within the Captive Nations, the godless forces of Soviet communism were vanquished—and the human spirit triumphed.

Today, nearly four decades later, our Nation and our culture confront a new set of menacing ideologies seeking once again to cast God out from our society.  But today, as Catholic Bishops consecrate the United States of America to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in this 250th year of our Independence, we recommit ourselves, like President Reagan and Pope Saint John Paul II, to defending our spiritual identity and great civilizational inheritance.  Above all, we pray that America will continue for the next 250 years, and beyond, to be a land of faith, a country of miracles, and a light and glory to all nations.

President Issues Message on Global Coptic Day

Yesterday, the White House posted a Presidential Message on Global Coptic Day (full text). The Message reads in part:

More than 2,000 years ago, the Holy Family fled to Egypt and sought refuge from persecution, blessing the land that later became home to one of the world’s oldest Christian communities.  When Saint Mark the Evangelist began spreading the Gospel in Egypt decades later, he planted a seed that would grow into the extraordinary Coptic Orthodox Church. 

Today, Coptic Christians throughout the United States enrich our national life through their devotion to God, love of family, and steadfast witness to the blessings of faith and freedom.  Yet throughout the world, Coptic Christians have faced the oppression of empires, persecution, and unspeakable violence—from martyrs like Saint Maurice in the ancient world to the 21 Coptic construction workers brutally executed by ISIS terrorists on a Libyan beach just 11 years ago.  The violent persecution of Christians is a barbaric evil, and my Administration remains firmly committed to ending it in all its forms.,,,

As we celebrate 250 glorious years of American Independence, Global Coptic Day stands as a profound testament to a truth written in the very soul of this Republic—that the free exercise of religion is the cornerstone of our constitutional way of life, the first freedom enshrined by our Founders, and the liberty every tyrant has always feared and sought to destroy....

President Issues Message on Pentecost

 Yesterday, the White House posted a "Presidential Message on Pentecost" (full text). It reads in part:

Melania and I join many Christians throughout our Nation and around the world who are joyfully celebrating the miracle of Pentecost today and the birth of Christ’s Church.

Fifty days after the glorious Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, the Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles in Jerusalem in tongues of fire, triumphantly fulfilling Christ’s promise and giving them the courage and divine authority to proclaim the message of God to every nation and people....

On this holy day, we proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ, our hope in His saving power, and our enduring commitment to pursuing His will as one Nation under God.  As we celebrate 250 years of American Independence this year, we pray that the Holy Spirit continues to inspire our hearts, strengthen our resolve, and guide our Nation with wisdom, courage, and hope for years to come.

President's Memorial Day Proclamation

President Trump last week issued a Proclamation (full text) declaring today as Memorial Day, saying in part:

... All Americans inherit the glorious gift of liberty that has been purchased with the spilled blood of brave warriors and the tears and heartache of those they left behind.  It is fitting and necessary for our Nation to pause for an annual reminder of the enduring and perilously high cost of freedom, but the immeasurable gravity of what has been sacrificed for the greater good deserves our eternal reverence and unwavering gratitude every day. 

On this solemn day, the First Lady and I ask you to join us in prayer for lasting peace in this volatile world, for the protection of those in harm’s way, and for the grace of Almighty God to comfort all who grieve.   

In honor of all of our fallen heroes, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950 ... (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people might unite in prayer. The Congress, by Public Law 106–579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of Remembrance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I ... do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time when people might unite in prayer. I ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day...

"Rededicate 250" Held on National Mall Yesterday

Crowds of people gathered yesterday on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving. The organizers, Freedom 250, are described by NPR as "a public-private group working with the White House."  A video of the full 8 hours and 45 minutes of the program is available here on YouTube. Speakers included public officials, clergy and authors. (List of speakers.) According to CNN:

Freedom 250, a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Park Foundation, which functions as the National Park Service’s fundraising arm, organized the event....

While organizers invited Americans of every background to attend the event, the long list of faith leaders who attended consisted largely of evangelical Christians — except for one Orthodox rabbi and two conservative Catholic bishops. Brittany Baldwin, White House senior policy adviser and executive of the White House Task Force America 250, described a focus on “our heritage as a Judeo-Christian” nation....

 Experts CNN spoke with were split on whether the event was constitutional....

NPR pointed out:

President Trump, who was golfing on Sunday afternoon, did not attend the event. Trump delivered a video message reading the Biblical scripture 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, which details God's response to King Solomon after he completed the temple in Jerusalem.

Trump administration officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also spoke in video messages....

Presidential Message on the Feast of the Ascension

Last Thursday, the White House posted a Presidential Message on the Feast of the Ascension (full text). The Message said in part:

Forty days ago, the world celebrated the miracle of Easter, when Jesus rose from the dead following His death on the Cross.  On the Feast of the Ascension, we celebrate yet another great miracle:  His bodily departure from Earth and return to His Father in Heaven.

On this special day, we are reminded that, for millions of Americans, the love of Christ gives our lives—and our country—the deepest meaning, purpose, and identity.  As we celebrate 250 years of American freedom and independence, we remember that America remains a great Nation because the United States has always been a Nation blessed by God.

USCIRF Urges President to Fill Position of Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom yesterday issued a statement (full text) urging President Trump to select a nominee to fill the position of Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, and urging the Senate to swiftly confirm the nomination. The USCIRF Statement says in part:

President Trump has engaged in some important IRF policy decisions, including the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and the expansion of visa restrictions against IRF violators and their families.... However, the present lack of ambassadorial leadership on IRF matters prevents the U.S. government from fulfilling its potential in leading global efforts to advance this vital issue—a problem that can be solved through a swift nomination and confirmation process.

As previously reported, in April 2025, President Trump nominated Mark Walker, a former Baptist minister and former congressman, to be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. However, the Senate failed to hold a hearing on his nomination which was being blocked by North Carolina Senator Tedd Budd who defeated Walker in the 2022 Republican primary for U.S. Senate. So last January, Walker withdrew his name from consideration for the ambassadorship and instead accepted an appointment by President Trump as Principal Advisor on Global Religious Freedom to the State Department. His term in that position expired last month.

Today Is National Day of Prayer

36 US Code §119 provides that "The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer...." Consistent with that, the non-governmental National Day of Prayer Task Force is promoting today as the National Day of Prayer. However, yesterday (Wednesday) the White House posted a "Presidential Message on National Day of Prayer" (full text) suggesting that yesterday was the National Day of Prayer. The Message, dated May 6, says in part:

This National Day of Prayer, we proudly recommit to our magnificent birthright of faith.  I encourage all Americans to come together today in prayer, reflecting on the many blessings God has given our Nation and asking for His continued protection, with ceremonies, events, and programs in their houses of worship and places of work, schools, and homes.

The Message also says in part:

Today, faith in God is resurging on American shores like never before.  Throughout this historic year, we rejoice in the triumph of the American spirit and in the love and grace of Almighty God.  And just as our Founders came together in prayer before declaring independence, thousands of Americans will gather on Sunday, May 17, on the National Mall to rededicate the United States as One Nation Under God.

President Declares May As Jewish American Heritage Month

On Monday, President Trump issued a Proclamation (full text) declaring May as Jewish American Heritage Month. The Proclamation reads in part:

Throughout this historic year, we rejoice in the triumph of the American spirit and rededicate ourselves to the cause of liberty and justice for all.  In special honor of 250 glorious years of American independence and on the weekend of Rededicate 250 — a national jubilee of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving — Jewish Americans are encouraged to observe a national Sabbath.  From sundown on May 15 to nightfall on May 16, friends, families, and communities of all backgrounds may come together in gratitude for our great Nation.  This day will recognize the sacred Jewish tradition of setting aside time for rest, reflection, and gratitude to the Almighty.

This month, we celebrate the contributions that Jewish Americans have made to our way of life, we honor their role in shaping the story of our Nation, and we remember that religious devotion, learning, and service to others are enduring pillars of a thriving culture....

President's Task Force on Anti-Christian Bias Issues Report

Yesterday, the President's Task Force to Eradicate anti-Christian Bias issued a report (full text) titled Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias within the Federal Government. The 197-page Report (with an additional 368 pages of Exhibits) focuses on policies of the Biden Administration, and concludes in part:

The Task Force found that, in its zealous pursuit of its preferred policies and constituents, the Biden Administration engaged in anti-Christian bias, seeking to limit Christians’ ability to act in concert with their sincerely held beliefs in their homes, in the workplace, and in the public square. At times, it went still further, leading Christians to reportedly choose between their beliefs and compliance with federal law. And, most troublingly, the Biden Administration is alleged to have prosecuted and jailed peaceful Christian pro-life demonstrators, terminated or harassed Christian workers who did not comply with the vaccine mandates, targeted Christian organizations with IRS inquiries, and subjected Christian schools to excessive fines. Taken together, the findings presented by the Task Force raise serious concerns about whether certain Biden-era policies and practices were administered in a manner consistent with the Constitution and applicable federal law. These concerns implicate core American commitments—religious liberty, equal treatment, and the rule of law—that protect all Americans of faith and conscience....

Our Nation’s forefathers recognized that our most essential rights are given to us by God and are not bestowed by civil government. By design, the Constitution and federal law limit the government’s reach into speech and religion to protect those inalienable rights from the vicissitudes of politics and changing times. Americans have been promised freedom of religion, not just in the privacy of their homes and four walls of their churches, but to daily walk in accordance with their religious teachings and conscience in the public square.

The National Catholic Register summarizes the Report.  The Freedom from Religion Foundation issued a press release strongly criticizing the Report.

White House Posts Presidential Message Marking 419th Anniversary of the Cape Henry Cross

Yesterday, the White House posted a "Presidential Message on the Anniversary of the First Landing and the Raising of the Cape Henry Cross" (full text). In it, the President says in part:

On this day 419 years ago, America’s birthright of faith was anchored in the sand when a courageous group of adventurers, explorers, and settlers planted a glorious wooden cross at the crest of Cape Henry, Virginia—a consecration of the new frontier that laid the foundation for the greatest Republic in the history of the world.  Today, our Nation pays tribute to the heroes who landed at Cape Henry in the spring of 1607, and we pledge to pioneer a future that once again upholds our traditions, cherishes our values, and places our trust in Almighty God.

On April 26, 1607, 104 men completed a daring voyage across the Atlantic in search of opportunity in the Americas.  Commissioned by King James I and the Virginia Company of London, they were guided by a noble mission:  to extend Christendom’s dominion in the New World, secure their prosperity, and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ....

President Issues Easter Message

On Friday, the White House posted a Presidential Message on Easter (full text). The Message reads in part:

This Easter Sunday, the First Lady and I join with Christians all across our Nation and around the world in rejoicing in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, whose triumph over sin and victory over death secured the promise of redemption and the hope of eternal life for all who believe in Him as Lord and Savior.

Sunday, we proclaim with joy that Christ has risen, a new creation has been ushered in, and evil and death have been conquered forever through the unmatched power of God’s sacrificial love....

As we rejoice in this Easter season, we are reminded that the life of Jesus Christ and the truths of the Gospel have inspired our way of life and our national identity for 250 years.  From the Christian patriots who won and secured our liberty on the battlefield and every generation since, the love of Christ has unfailingly guided our Nation through calm waters and dark storms....

President Issues Eid al-Fitr Message

 The White House yesterday posted a Presidential Message on Eid al-Fitr which reads:

The First Lady and I send our best wishes to every American celebrating Eid al-Fitr.

Eid al-Fitr, also known as the Festival of Breaking the Fast, unites Muslim families, friends, and communities in honor of their spiritual devotion at the conclusion of Ramadan.  It also serves as a reminder of the foundational American principle of religious liberty, which my Administration is fighting for every day.

We offer our warmest greetings for a blessed Eid al-Fitr to all who celebrate.

President Issues St. Patrick's Day Message

Yesterday, the White House posted President Trump's Presidential Message on Saint Patrick’s Day and Irish American Heritage Month. The Message reads in part:

Today, and throughout the month of March, I join the Irish American community and all American citizens in celebrating the bond between our two nations and commemorating the towering life and legacy of Saint Patrick—the patron Saint of Ireland and an immortal icon of faith, freedom, and fortitude.

Born in the fourth century, Saint Patrick spent his life traversing the rugged frontiers of medieval Ireland to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Celtic people.  In the face of relentless persecution, imprisonment, and even assassination attempts, he ventured into unknown lands and hostile territory to proclaim the truth, fearlessly obeying Christ’s command to “make disciples of all nations.”  Tradition holds that, during 40 days of prayer and fasting on a mountaintop, he banished all serpents and demons off of the Emerald Isle and taught the mystery of the Holy Trinity to pagans using the three-leaved shamrock, setting untold hearts on fire for Christ.

To this day, Saint Patrick lives on in our country and around the world as a heroic Christian witness, a testament to the power of prayer, and a timeless exemplar of the strength of the Irish people.  In the 19th and 20th centuries, millions of Irish natives brought his faith and missionary spirit across the Atlantic and onto American shores....

As we celebrate 250 glorious years of American independence, we also pay tribute to the distinct role of Irish Americans in our national journey....

President Trump's Ash Wednesday Message

Yesterday, the White House posted a Presidential Message on Ash Wednesday (full text). It reads in part:

Today, the First Lady and I join the millions of Christians in the United States and around the world in observing Ash Wednesday—a solemn day of prayer and repentance and the beginning of the Lenten season.

Every Ash Wednesday, Christians receive ashes in the shape of a cross on their foreheads as a visible reminder of our belonging to Jesus Christ and our enduring need for penance....

... [W] are reminded that the practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving have been foundational to our strength from the earliest days of our national story.  From the Colonists who turned to prayer and fasting in the heart of the Revolutionary War to the unmatched compassion and generosity of America’s churches, hospitals, and charitable institutions, these righteous acts of faith over the centuries have always stood at the center of our identity, our heritage, and our way of life....

Above all, as we prepare for the triumphant resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday—the greatest miracle in the history of mankind—we pause to remember those sacred words:  “This is the time of fulfillment.  The Kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

Trump Announces May Event to "Rededicate America as One Nation Under God"

President Trump yesterday delivered lengthy remarks (full transcript) at the National Prayer Breakfast held at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. His remarks included the following announcement:

In the last 12 months, young Americans attended church at nearly twice the rate as they did four years ago.... Some churches are seeing a 30 percent, 50 percent, or even 70 percent increase in the number of converts, and also the number of people going to church every week.

To support this exciting renewal this morning, I’m pleased to announce that on May 17th — 26th — that we’re inviting Americans from all across the country to come together on our National Mall to pray, to give thanks, and to — We are going to do something that everyone said, like, that’s tough. We’re going to rededicate America as one nation under God.