by SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday pledged new protections for school prayer, calling it “ridiculous” that students could face punishment for practicing their faith in public schools.
Speaking to the White House Religious Liberty Commission at the Museum of the Bible, Trump said the Department of Education will soon issue updated guidance to ensure students can pray freely.
“For most of our country’s history, the Bible was found in every classroom in the nation,” Trump said. “Yet in many schools today, students are instead indoctrinated with anti-religious propaganda. Some are even punished for their religious beliefs — and very, very strongly punished. It’s ridiculous.”
Case Highlighted
Trump pointed to a case in Texas where a student organized classmates to pray for an injured peer. The school’s principal banned the prayer service, but the student ultimately prevailed in court.
“I’m pleased to announce this morning that the Department of Education will soon issue new guidance protecting the right to prayer in our public schools,” Trump told the audience.
Longtime Position
The president has long been a proponent of public school prayer. In 2020, his administration gave religious organizations easier access to federal programs and issued the first new school prayer guidance since 2003.
The updated rules are expected to clarify when school officials must allow prayer and the consequences if they don’t. However, the changes are largely consistent with earlier policies.
“We will not let anyone push God from the public square,” Trump said. “We will uphold religious liberty for all.”