In his election-night victory speech, Donald Trump promised to lead America into a new "golden age." Religious freedom advocates welcomed this pledge, hoping that the new president would prioritize restoring First Amendment rights Americans had lost under President Joe Biden. But administration watchers were unsure if, how, or when Trump would begin such a restoration.
To the delight of many people of faith, Trump has championed religious freedom and free speech beyond what they could have hoped in his first week in office, taking seven significant actions to advance First Amendment rights.
First, Trump ended the weaponization of the federal government. As a presidential candidate, Trump decried the Biden administration's lawfare against perceived political opponents, including parents at school board meetings, peaceful pro-life protestors, and those who adhere to "traditionalist Catholic ideology." Through a day-one executive order, Trump directed the attorney general to investigate and correct all Biden-era weaponization of the federal government against Americans, especially people of faith.
Second, Trump took steps toward reversing the Biden administration's weaponization of the justice system by pardoning 23 peaceful pro-life protesters. One individual pardoned was a 75-year-old woman sentenced to two years in prison for praying outside of an abortion facility. In a video address to the March for Life, Trump said it was his "honor" to grant a full and complete pardon to this woman and other faithful Americans targeted for their pro-life speech. The president also pledged to end all religious persecution in America.
Third, the president restored free speech protections through a day-one executive order prohibiting all federal agencies from using federal resources to "unconstitutionally abridge" the free speech of American citizens. Federal employees may no longer prosecute Americans for their religious or political speech, collude with media companies to censor speech, or use federal funds to label domestic speech "misinformation" or "disinformation."
Fourth, on the day of the March for Life, Trump issued an executive order directing the federal government to enforce the federal Hyde Amendment, which bans the use of federal taxpayer dollars to fund or promote abortion. Trump also reinstated the Mexico City Policy, ending American funding of foreign organizations that perform or promote abortion internationally. Through these twin actions, Trump protected conscience rights for religious taxpayers who object to having their tax dollars used to fund abortion.
Fifth, Trump affirmed that there are only two sexes. One of his most frequent campaign promises was to "restore the timeless truth that God created two genders, male and female." He kept that promise on day one, issuing an executive order restoring "biological truth" to the federal government. Under Biden, faith-based nonprofits could be barred from federal funding and contracting due to their beliefs. Religious couples could even be rejected from fostering or adopting children on the basis of their religious beliefs about gender. By affirming traditional definitions of sex and gender, Trump ensured people of faith are free to serve their communities and care for children in need.
Sixth, through an executive order on Monday, Trump fulfilled his commitment to reinstate service members harmed by anti-religious hostility. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Biden Department of Defense refused to issue religious exemptions from the COVID-19 military vaccine mandate while freely granting exemptions for medical and administrative reasons. Thousands of service members were discharged from the military for their refusal to violate their conscience by receiving the vaccine. During his inaugural address, Trump announced he would reinstate all service members removed from the military for objecting to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate. This reinstatement of service members who stood for their faith sends a clear message to the American people: religious freedom is back in our military.
Seventh, the president rejected dangerous "court reforms." During his first term, Trump appointed three Justices to the U.S. Supreme Court committed to upholding the U.S. Constitution. As these Justices voted to protect religious freedom, enforce free speech rights, and return abortion policy to the states, leftists decried the Court as an illegitimate institution in need of drastic "reform." In response, Biden created the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States, directing it to recommend possible "reforms" such as court packing, ethics investigations, and term limits. On day one, Trump revoked the Biden-era commission charter, signaled his strong respect for judicial independence as a bulwark of constitutional rights like religious liberty.
In one week, Trump took multiple steps to restore free speech and religious liberty for all Americans. And it seems that he's just getting started.
Based on Trump's promises made and promises kept on First Amendment issues, religious liberty advocates can rest assured: this is the dawn of a golden age for religious freedom in America.
Kassie Dulin is Senior Director of External Affairs at First Liberty Institute, a non-profit law firm dedicated to defending religious freedom for all.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
