In a bold move to solidify his support among conservative Christians, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the creation of a task force dedicated to eradicating anti-Christian bias within the government.
Speaking at a national prayer breakfast in Washington on Thursday, Trump outlined his administration’s latest initiative, which he framed as a response to what he described as ongoing persecution of Christianity in the United States.
Trump has appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi to lead the task force, which will focus on ending religious discrimination across federal agencies such as the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the FBI.
The initiative will also seek to prosecute anti-Christian violence and vandalism, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to protecting religious communities.
“We will protect Christians in our schools, in our military, in our government, in our workplaces, hospitals, and in our public squares,” Trump declared, emphasizing his administration’s stance on religious freedom.
As part of his broader religious agenda, Trump also announced the creation of a White House faith office, which will be led by his longtime spiritual advisor, televangelist Paula White. The office is expected to play a central role in shaping faith-based policies and expanding religious influence in government decision-making.
Trump’s latest push comes amid a sweeping conservative overhaul of federal policies, with several executive orders already signed targeting diversity programs and transgender rights.
His second term has seen a renewed emphasis on traditional values, appealing to the Christian nationalist movement that forms a significant part of his political base.
Interestingly, Trump himself has never been widely regarded as particularly religious. However, he has claimed that his survival of an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in June 2024, deepened his faith.
“It changed something in me. I feel even stronger. I believed in God, but now I feel much more strongly about it,” he said at a separate prayer breakfast on Thursday at the U.S. Capitol.
During his January 20 inauguration speech, Trump reflected on the near-fatal attack, stating that he had been “saved by God to Make America Great Again.”