Trump’s Support for Church Involvement in Politics
President Donald Trump expressed his approval of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allowing churches to support political candidates, stating he is pleased that “the church can do it now.”
During a press interaction on Wednesday, Trump shared his thoughts on the IRS’s decision, emphasizing that his administration has shown considerable respect for church leaders. He mentioned that he would appreciate receiving political support “if anyone in his faith wants,” indicating a desire to connect with those who share his beliefs.
“The IRS says the church can now support political candidates,” a reporter noted. They also raised the question of how this might impact ongoing work in Africa, mentioning the numerous American churches involved in missionary work there. “Do you support that?” they inquired.
“I love the fact that the church can support political candidates,” Trump responded. “We have a lot of respect for pastors, rabbis, and leaders from various religions, and we think that’s important.”
He further explained that under the previous Johnson amendment, churches faced serious consequences for engaging politically on behalf of candidates.
Trump’s remarks followed an IRS statement in legal documents released on Monday, which affirmed that churches should be permitted to back political candidates. This decision emerged amid a lawsuit involving the “Association of Two Texas Churches and the Christian Broadcasting Stations.” According to reports, the agency’s statement aimed to clarify legal disputes filed by the two Texas churches and the Christian Broadcasting Agency.
The plaintiffs had urged federal courts in Texas to grant broader exemptions, arguing that both religious and secular nonprofits should be able to support candidates freely. Such a change could have fundamentally altered the role of nonprofits in political campaigning.
According to IRS records, in 1954, Congress approved an amendment by then-Senator Lyndon B. Johnson that prohibited 501(c)(3) organizations, including charities and churches, from participating in political campaign activities.
