Recently, President Trump expressed uncertainty about whether it’s his role to uphold the US Constitution. This raises eyebrows regarding his actions, such as his recent dismissal of constitutional principles that safeguard the separation of church and state, religious liberty, and equality before the law.
On Prayer Land Day, an event on May 1 in the White House Rose Garden where prayers were led by various religious leaders, Trump initiated a Religious Freedom Committee, which notably consists of his supporters. He claimed that “religion is returning to our country,” a statement that seems questionable. He also suggested that concerns about church and state separation could be overlooked for the moment.
These remarks highlight his alliance with the religious right, a group that many of Trump’s allies seem eager to disregard the distinction between church and state. This separation is a crucial aspect of our constitutional government that shouldn’t be compromised for the sake of creating a so-called “Christian state.”
Some members of this new committee raise concerns. For instance, Eric Metaxas, a Trump supporter and fellow committee member Paula White, has been known for his conspiracy theories, even going so far as to label Trump’s political adversaries as devils.
Another member, Kelly Shackleford, is an attorney actively working against the separation of church and state. He has endorsed a project aiming to impose religious tests for future Supreme Court justices, advocating for the selection of judges who align with a specific religious viewpoint.
Even as some advocate for substituting school counselors with pastors, the notion of enforcing religious criteria for judges that would effectively exclude countless Americans—including many Christians—seems quite extreme.
The idea that the nation should be governed solely by Christians marginalizes people of other faiths, which unfortunately contributes to rising intolerance and violence against them, including Jews and Muslims.
Moreover, Christians who disagree with Trump do not escape scrutiny. Recently elected Pope Leo XIV has faced backlash from Trump supporters for his stance on immigration and poverty.
Following the Rose Garden event, I spoke with Rabbi David Saperstein, a constitutional lawyer and respected spiritual leader, who has devoted his life to promoting the nation’s foundational values. He pointed out that the protection of religious freedom, the separation of church and state, and the prohibition of religious tests for public office have established a unique framework where citizens’ rights are independent of their religious beliefs.
While these ideals took time to be acknowledged and realized, the Supreme Court’s support for church-state separation has allowed religious minorities to participate more fully in American society. This shift has been significant, encouraging those who believe they belong in this country.
Some of Trump’s supporters argue that Christians must exert more influence over government and societal institutions to reshape the nation according to their preferences. Aligning with Trump may facilitate these objectives, which underscores how many elected Republicans have strayed from the country’s fundamental ideals.
Rabbi Saperstein highlighted that critical advancements in civil rights and opportunities for marginalized groups have emerged from bipartisan coalitions throughout history. The reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act in 2006 by a nearly unanimous Senate illustrates that such unity is becoming elusive in today’s political climate.
This poses serious challenges for the US, as a strong bipartisan commitment to the Constitution and its democratic principles—like the rule of law and the genuine freedom of religion—is essential.
The late former Supreme Court Justice David Starr was a Republican who staunchly defended church-state separation and religious freedom, and we need more Republicans willing to stand against Trump’s ongoing challenges to these values.
Svante Myrick is the president of American Way People.
