Trump Talks Religious Freedom, Promises to ‘Fix’ Threats at National Prayer Breakfast

By Liberty McArtor Published on February 2, 2017

President Donald Trump emphasized the importance of religious liberty and tolerance for all faiths during his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning. “America,” he said, “must forever remain a tolerant society where all faiths are respected and where all of our citizens feel safe and secure.”

It is traditional for the president to attend the annual bipartisan event, begun by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. Trump said he hopes to attend “seven more times.”

Compliments, Jokes, and a World in Trouble

The first few moments of Trump’s approximately 20-minute address were filled with compliments and some jokes. He praised Senate Chaplain Barry Black, who spoke earlier during the event. “I don’t know if you’re a Democrat or Republican but I’m appointing you for another year, the h— with it,” Trump said. Black was elected by the Senate in 2003.

He joked about leaving  for the presidency. He noted that the ratings for his reality TV show The Celebrity Apprentice have declined under new host Arnold Schwarzenegger, asking the audience to “pray for Arnold.” Schwarzenegger responded by tweeting a short video after Trump’s remarks, saying, “Why don’t we switch jobs?”

Trump went on to discuss the “sacred right” of religious freedom, quoting Thomas Jefferson, who said that such liberties are a gift from God. He also talked about the “serious threat” facing religious freedom around the world.

“We have seen unimaginable violence carried out in the name of religion,” he said. “Acts of wanton slaughter against religious minorities. Horrors on a scale that defy description.”

He spoke of peaceful Muslims who had been “brutalized” by ISIS, Jewish people threatened with “extermination,” and Christians beheaded by ISIS.

“The world is in trouble, but we’re going to straighten it out,” he said. “That’s what I do. I fix things. We’re going to straighten it out.” All nations have a responsibility to work together to combat such terrorism, he added, but it is time to be “tough,” and “it may not be pretty for a little while.”

Immigrants Who Embrace Our Values

Trump also referenced his recent executive order which placed a temporary halt on immigration from seven Middle Eastern countries. The president said some want to “exploit” America’s generous immigration system by coming here “for the purpose of spreading violence or oppressing other people based upon their faith or their lifestyle.”

“In the coming days we will develop a system to help ensure that those admitted into our country fully embrace our values of religious and personal liberty,” he said.

In closing, Trump spoke of the importance of America’s continued reliance on God. “As long as we have God, we are never, ever alone. Whether it’s the soldier on the night watch or the single parent on the night shift, God will always give us solace and strength and comfort we need to carry on and to keep carrying on.”

“For us here in Washington, we must never ever stop asking God for the wisdom to serve the public according to his will,” he added.

 

The video of the address can be found here. President Trump’s address starts at 1:01.

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