WATCH: Trump receives report from Religious Liberty Commission in the Oval Office
PBS NewsHour – Politics — 2026-06-26 16:04:00 — www.pbs.org
Trump Touts Commission Report Challenging Church-State Separation, Claims to Have “Saved Religion”
A new draft report from a commission created by President Donald Trump is calling for a fundamental shift in the relationship between religion and government, urging the nation to move away from the traditional concept of separating church and state. The Religious Liberty Commission, established by Trump and composed almost entirely of conservative Christians, released its 224-page draft Friday, advocating for a stronger role for religion in government, schools, and public life.
Trump’s Boast and Claims of Persecution
Speaking at a Faith & Freedom Coalition gathering in Washington, Trump promoted the commission’s findings, declaring, “We saved religion, it was going down.” He also accused the administration of his predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, of carrying out a “reign of persecution” against religious Americans.
Commission Recommendations Reflect Trump’s Agenda
The commission’s report aligns closely with Trump’s longstanding goals. It recommends eliminating the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits political activity by tax-exempt religious organizations—a move Trump has repeatedly pushed for. The report also calls for compensating military service members discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccines, expanding religious expression in public spaces, increasing access to public funds for faith-based agencies, and broadening exemptions for those with religious objections to policies on vaccines, pronouns, and classroom lessons.
Downplaying Church-State Separation
While the commission stops short of calling the separation of church and state a “lie”—as its chairman, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, did earlier this year—it argues that the concept is often misapplied. The report insists it does not advocate for theocracy or the total elimination of any separation, but rather for a “tension” between First Amendment clauses that protect religious freedom and prohibit government establishment of religion.
Fact-Check: Trump’s Exaggerations and Distortions
Trump’s claim that his administration “saved religion” is a significant exaggeration. The report itself is part of a broader push by conservative states to bring more religion into public life, including classrooms, but there is no evidence that religion in America was “going down” in a way that required saving by the Trump administration. Furthermore, Trump’s assertion of a “reign of persecution” under Biden is not substantiated by the commission’s own findings, which critics say amount to advocacy rather than evidence-based investigation.
Criticism and Lack of Diversity
The commission has faced criticism for its lack of ideological diversity and for failing to address issues such as anti-Muslim efforts and the rise of antisemitism on the right. A coalition of groups has filed a lawsuit challenging the commission’s composition, arguing that it does not meet federal requirements for balanced viewpoints.
Conclusion
Trump’s promotion of the Religious Liberty Commission’s report underscores his administration’s efforts to reshape the boundaries between religion and government. However, his sweeping claims about saving religion and persecution under his successor are not supported by the facts presented in the commission’s own draft. As the report enters a public comment period, debate over the future of church-state separation in America is likely to intensify.