Trump vows to protect prayer in public schools: 'To have a great nation, you need to have religion'

During a Museum of the Bible hearing, Trump stressed his administration would 'protect the Judeo-Christian values' of America's founding
Donald Trump vowed to protect the right to prayer in public schools while speaking at the Museum of the Bible on September 8, 2025, in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Donald Trump vowed to protect the right to prayer in public schools while speaking at the Museum of the Bible on September 8, 2025, in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)


 

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump announced on Monday, September 8, the upcoming guidance from the Department of Education to protect the right to prayer in public schools during a speech at his Religious Liberty Commission’s hearing. 

The hearing at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, marked the commission’s second public meeting, which had the theme "Religious Liberty in Public Education."

Trump says his administration would 'protect the Judeo-Christian values of our founding'

Donald Trump had long vowed to bring religion back to the US, both on the campaign trail and also after assuming office for the second time.

On Monday, he walked out to the crowd at the Museum of the Bible and thanked the commission for doing an "amazing job."

The POTUS said his administration would "protect the Judeo-Christian values of our founding."

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 08: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Museum of the Bible September 8, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump addressed the White House Religious Liberties Commission during the event. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump speaks at the Museum of the Bible on September 8, 2025, in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Moreover, later in the day, the White House published an article mentioning Trump's "Top 100 Victories for People of Faith."

During Monday's hearing, Trump said, "To have a great nation, you have to have religion – I believe that so strongly. There has to be something after we go through all of this, and that something is God."

The MAGA leader also alleged that students are "indoctrinated with antireligious propaganda" in public schools before announcing the new Department of Education guidance. It was not immediately clear what the guidance would entail.

Interestingly, students have long had the right to pray in public schools as individuals.

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 08: U.S. President Donald Trump adjusts the microphone for Shea Encinas before Encinas spoke at the Museum of the Bible September 8, 2025 in Washington, DC. Encinas joined Trump as he addressed the White House Religious Liberties Commission during the event. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump adjusts the microphone for Shea Encinas before Encinas spoke at the Museum of the Bible on September 8, 2025, in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

The Justice Department's website said the goal of the meeting was to “understand the historic landscape of religious liberty in the educational setting, recognize present threats to religious liberty in education, and identify opportunities to secure religious liberty in this context for the future.”

During his lengthy speech, the 79-year-old president listed various initiatives, such as using the National Guard to crack down on crime in Washington, DC, ending "anti-Christian bias," and his efforts to end perceived "wokeness" at the Smithsonian Institution.

Trump said about the institution, "Honestly, they’re making changes, you know. They were also told what to do by people that came before me, in all fairness, but they’re making changes. Big changes are being made at the Smithsonian."

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 08: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the Museum of the Bible September 8, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump addressed the White House Religious Liberties Commission during the event. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump speaks at the Museum of the Bible on September 8, 2025, in Washington, DC (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

He also added that Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine should be "ashamed of himself" for comments he made during a September 3 Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing.

Notably, Kaine said he found Secretary of State Marco Rubio's remarks about God-given rights "troubling."

He said, while noting he is also religious, "The notion that rights don't come from laws and don't come from the government, but come from the Creator − that's what the Iranian government believes."

Internet hails Trump for Education Department guidance on right to prayer

Several internet users sided with Donald Trump as he announced the upcoming guidance from the Department of Education to protect the right to prayer in public schools.

A user wrote on X, "I cannot wait for this," while one added, "Like this post if you agree we need Christ back in the Classroom."



 



 

A person stated, "Thanks for sharing the update. I’ll be interested to see the details of the new @usedgov guidance on prayer in public schools," whereas one mentioned, "One Nation Under God."



 



 

One more wrote, "This is good stuff," while another shared, "This makes me want to cry. There is something wonderful when a teacher prays for her/his students to learn and have a good day."



 



 

"Promises made, promises kept!" a supporter wrote. 



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

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