U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday the creation of a White House faith office and appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead a newly formed task force dedicated to eliminating what he described as anti-Christian bias within the federal government.
Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast at the U.S. Capitol, Trump called for “unity” and reflected on how his perspective on religion had “changed” after surviving two assassination attempts last year. However, during a second prayer breakfast in Washington, his remarks took on a more partisan tone as he celebrated recent political victories and announced measures aimed at protecting Christians from what he characterized as religious discrimination.
“The mission of this task force will be to immediately halt all forms of anti-Christian targeting and discrimination within the federal government, including at the DOJ, which was absolutely terrible, the IRS, the FBI, and other agencies,” Trump stated.
He further pledged that his attorney general would take decisive action to “fully prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism in our society and to move heaven and earth to defend the rights of Christians and religious believers nationwide.”
Although Trump did not provide specific examples of anti-Christian bias during his speech, he has previously accused the Biden administration of using federal institutions to target Christians.
On the same day, Trump signed an executive order formally establishing the task force. Its responsibilities include evaluating policies and recommending measures to eliminate “violative policies, practices, or conduct” perceived as discriminatory against Christians.
This initiative follows the Biden administration’s efforts to counter religious discrimination in other communities. In December, Biden’s administration introduced a strategy to combat anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bigotry, following a similar plan in September 2023 aimed at addressing antisemitism.
Trump’s announcement raises potential constitutional concerns regarding the separation of church and state. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution limits government involvement in promoting specific religions, and critics may question whether these new initiatives align with constitutional principles.
Since surviving an assassination attempt last year, Trump has increasingly framed his political journey in religious terms, positioning himself as a leader divinely spared for a purpose. “Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason,” he has repeated at various campaign events across the country.
Trump continues to hold strong support among White evangelical Christian voters, a key Republican voting bloc. In recent election cycles, this group has consistently backed him due to his alignment with conservative Christian values and policies that reflect their concerns about shifting gender norms and changing family structures.
During his speech, Trump also announced the creation of a White House Faith Office, to be led by Rev. Paula White, a longtime religious adviser. This move mirrors an initiative from his first term when he established a similar office and maintained close relationships with a group of evangelical advisors.
In addition, Trump declared plans to establish a new commission on religious liberty and criticized the Biden administration for what he described as the “persecution” of religious believers through its prosecution of anti-abortion activists.
“If we don’t have religious liberty, then we don’t have a free country,” Trump emphasized.
The structure of the National Prayer Breakfast changed in 2023, splitting into two separate events. Lawmakers attended an official gathering on Capitol Hill, while a separate private event was held in a hotel ballroom for a larger audience. This shift came after concerns arose over the management and funding of the private religious group previously associated with the event.