His first half inauguration – in His tariff campaigngovernment destructive movements and immigration crackdowns – President Donald Trump has been repeatedly delivered for the conservative Christians formed. The foundation of his Republican support.
He overtures Jews and Muslims Other religions The group, his Christian supporters, was one of his most famous agents and appointees.
The Trump administration has green-lit political support from the pulpit and encourages religion in the federal workplace. Trump has established Faith-focused entities There are many influential Christian appointees. He is a vibrant supporter who was attacked culture and academic The target has long been seen as a liberal fortress. His administration and his Supreme Court appointees expanded the territory for religious exemptions and expressions in public squares.
“We are regaining religion in our country,” Trump contested at the Rose Garden event. The nation of prayer In May.
His faith advisor, Rev. Paula White Kane, declared that in his administration, faith was “returned to where it belongs, and that is the center.”
Critics say he is eroding the separation between the church and the state.
“What we celebrate is this Christian nationalist leaning towards something bent, and this ideology that Christians should control over the US government,” said Rev. Shannon Fleck, the loyal American executive director, a progressive Christian group.
“A president with a true Christian agenda will be most interested in turning the people of our country aside and lifting up,” she said. “The most vulnerable of us are not billionaires. The most vulnerable of us are not these Christian manipulators who seek nothing but power.”
Below are ten ways Trump has paid back his supporters, especially conservative evangelicals and Catholics.
Transgender identity and treatment crackdown
Trump cracked down on transgender identity and treatment, a long target for religious conservatives.
On his first day he signed the executive order, recognising that only men and women perceived as biologically determined genders. Another order aimed at eliminating federal support Gender-affirming care for young peopleSome medical institutions have it Discontinued.
Yet another order intended to ban Transgender athlete From girls and women’s sports. University of Pennsylvaniaamending the Amendment School record set by formerly transgender swimmer Leah Thomas under the federal civil rights investigation, and said she would apologise to female athletes who were “at a disadvantage” for her participation.
Pastor, Politics, IRS
The IRS has been declared On July 7, the pastor can support political candidates from the pulpit without risking the church’s tax-free status. The move effectively sought sculpture for religious groups from the IRS regulations, known as the Johnson Amendment, which was enacted in 1954 and named after the then Sen. Lyndon Johnson.
According to the rules, the church and other nonprofits could lose their tax-free status if they participated in political campaigns for or against candidates. Although this rule was rarely enforced, some conservative religious leaders spent years claiming they were violating religion and freedom of speech. Trump vowed to “destroy” the Johnson Amendment in 2017.
Targeting planned parent-child relationships
Trump has signed a budget law aimed at reducing Medicaid payments Planned parent-child relationshipa long-standing target of the country’s largest abortion provider and Christian conservative groups.
While US law already bans federal funds for abortion, the latest cuts cover other services offered by organizations, such as birth control and cancer screening.
Playing cards in January Abortion prevention activists He was found guilty at the entrance to a lockdown abortion clinic.
Evangelist-led Faith Office
Trump has founded the White House Faith Office, led by the White House White Canea longtime pastor and evangelist in an independent and charismatic world. Past presidents have had White House outreach similar to their faith-based communities, but this appointment places one of Trump’s earliest famous Christian supporters in a strategic position. White Kane held a similar post in the first Trump administration.
Task Force on Anti-Christian Bias
Trump created it Task Force to Eliminate Anti-Christian Biaschaired by Attorney General Pam Bondi and consisted of high-ranking government representatives. That two-year order is to “identify and recommend changes to the previously allegedly “identifying illegal anti-Christians” actions Democrat Joe Biden has made. The order cites complaints expressed by conservative Christian leaders in recent years, but skeptics questioned how those complaints were portrayed and whether the country’s most dominant religious demographic needed special protection.
Religious Freedom Committee
Trump created it Religious Freedom Committee. This includes several conservative Christian clergy and commentators, some of whom are politically pro-Trump. That chair, Texas Lieutenant Colonel Dan Patrick, supported the prayer; 10 Commandments Submissions in Public Schools.
The committee’s announcement came at a White House prayer event where Trump mentioned the concept of segregation of church states. “Forget that once.”
Israel’s evangelical ambassador
Trump has appointed former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, a Southern Baptist pastor and well-known religious conservative, as Israeli ambassador.
Huckabee reflects unwavering support for Israel among many evangelicals, which views it as a favor for God and primarily dismisses criticism. Israel’s war with Hamas and Gaza aid restrictions.
That’s what Huckabee was like Confirmed by the Senate Despite concerns, he previously supported Israel’s right to annex the occupied West Bank. He promised to “execute the president’s priorities, not mine.”
Religion in the federal workplace
In a July 28 memo, the Human Resources Administration said federal employees can advertise and talk about their religion with fellow employees at work.
They can display religious items at work and encourage their colleagues to “participate in religious expressions of faith, such as prayer.” Office Director Scott Kpole said federal workers “do not have to choose their faith and career.”
Critics said this could erode the separation of church states and create a hostile work environment. “This memo encourages federal workers to abuse the power of their position by imposing their religious beliefs on others,” said Rachel Laser, president of American United for the separation of church and nation.
The influence of the Supreme Court
Trump has not yet appointed the Supreme Court this term. But his three first season picks – Neil Gorsucci, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Bullet – Continuing to deliver for Christian conservatives and their allies from other faiths that supported the appointment.
The High Court ruled it in June Maryland parents Religious objections allow children to be separated from public school lessons using LGBTQ+ storybooks. That Tennessee can be banned Gender maintenance care For transgender minors. And you can block that state Planned parent-child relationship From receiving Medicaid money.
All three were decided with the same 6-3 margin, with Trump’s appointees in the conservative majority of the courts.
Fighting against the culture war
Trump has launched a broad cultural war against universities and museums. Public broadcasting station Other institutions.
These targets have long been criticized for liberal prejudices by religion and other conservatives despite certain complaints and changing circumstances.
Trump has called for changes that cut funds, ousted staff or requested changes at the Smithsonian facility, Library of Congress. Kennedy Center and the National Fund for the Humanities. He signed the council’s actions to significantly cut funds for public broadcasting.
The Trump administration has also cut research funding at several elite US universities. Some of them provided financial payments and other concessions to his political agenda to get back the money.
It also works to curb diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government agencies and private companies.
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Associated Press Religious Reporting is supported through the Associated Press collaboration With funding from Lilly Endowment Inc., the AP is in a conversation by taking sole responsibility for this content.
