President Trump signed a groundbreaking executive order that protects Americans’ right to freely practice religion, simultaneously establishing the Religious Liberty Commission, which includes influential public figures like Dr. Ben Carson, Bishop Robert Barron, Dr. Phil McGraw, and Pastor Franklin Graham.
For context, on May 1, 2025, President Trump announced the formation of the Religious Liberty Commission and signed an executive order protecting religious freedom during a historic meeting of faith leaders at the White House. The gathering fell on the official National Day of Prayer, and its proceedings included an inspiring speech by the president and prayers from members of the newly established commission.
In the executive order, which was made public by the White House on May 1, 2025, the president spoke about the impetus for signing, referring to policies that threaten religious freedom in America. He wrote, “In recent years, some Federal, State, and local policies have threatened America’s unique and beautiful tradition of religious liberty.”
Continuing, President Trump added, “These policies attempt to infringe upon longstanding conscience protections, prevent parents from sending their children to religious schools, threaten loss of funding or denial of non-profit tax status for faith-based entities, and single out religious groups and institutions for exclusion from governmental programs.”
Additionally, in a fact sheet released alongside the executive order, the White House called religious freedom “America’s founding principle” and confirmed that the Religious Liberty Commission would play a key role in confronting “current threats to religious liberty” as well as forming “strategies to preserve and enhance protections for future generations.” In addition, it was confirmed that the members of the Commission will also “advise the White House Faith Office and the Domestic Policy Council on religious-liberty policies and recommend executive or legislative actions to protect these freedoms.”
Following the announcement of the Religious Liberty Commission’s formation, several of its members led inspiring prayers. Bishop Robert Barron moved the crowd, imploring God to “bless our president as he exercises the prerogatives of his high office.” Bishop Barron added, “May he strive always to please you in what he says and does, and may he govern under the direction of your providence. And may he, in his deliberations and decisions, always be particularly mindful of those who suffer and who are most in need.”
In addition, Phil McGraw, better known as Dr. Phil, praised President Trump for his commitment to religious liberty during the National Day of Prayer proceedings, saying, “I can’t tell you how proud I am to see religion coming back to the White House. God bless you for doing this.” Dr. Phil added, “This is a man that wants this country to have a heart and have religion, and God bless America for giving us President Donald Trump.”
According to a briefing released by the White House, the full list of individuals serving on the Religious Liberty Commission is Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (Chair), Dr. Ben Carson (Vice Chair), Ryan T. Anderson, Bishop Robert Barron, Carrie Prejean Boller, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Pastor Franklin Graham, Allyson Ho, Dr. Phil McGraw, Eric Metaxas, Kelly Shackleford, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, and Pastor Paula White.
Watch Dr. Phil speak at the National Day of Prayer event:
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video