Religious Freedom Day, 2026
This Presidential Proclamation, issued on January 16, 2026, formally designates that date as Religious Freedom Day, commemorating the enduring American commitment to the God-given right to practice faith freely without fear.
The document traces this right from the Mayflower settlers and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom—a precursor to the First Amendment—to the current administration's efforts to strengthen faith in the public square through initiatives like the White House Faith Office. The proclamation concludes by urging all Americans to honor the day by gathering at places of worship to praise the blessings of liberty.
Arguments For
Upholds the foundational First Amendment right to the free exercise of faith, which is central to the Nation's founding principles.
Reinforces historical commitments tracing back to early settlers and the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, emphasizing religious liberty as a core American value.
Highlights specific administrative actions taken to support religious practice in public life, such as establishing the White House Faith Office and protecting prayer in public schools.
Promotes national unity by encouraging Americans of all backgrounds to participate in reflective activities, including gathering at places of worship to honor liberty.
Arguments Against
Focusing the celebration almost exclusively on a Christian perspective (e.g., mentioning "anti-Christian bias" and encouraging prayer at houses of worship) could be viewed as marginalizing or disregarding the religious experiences of non-Christian faiths.
Directing federal departments (like the Department of Education) to protect specific rights like prayer in public schools may lead to legal challenges regarding the Establishment Clause separation of church and state.
The proclamation frames faith as integral to civic vitality and governance, which critics might argue blurs the necessary legal separation between religious institutions and government functions.
Celebrating Religious Freedom Day by citing the administration's specific, recent policy actions politicizes what is historically intended as a commemoration of constitutional rights.
Presidential Actions
end_contentBY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
For 250 years, our Nation and our people have abided by a simple truth: Every person is born with the God-given right to practice their faith, follow their conscience, and worship their God freely and without fear. This Religious Freedom Day, we honor America’s distinct place in the halls of history as the only Republic ever founded upon this sacred principle — and we renew our commitment to upholding our proud legacy as one glorious Nation under God.
More than 400 years ago, a band of weary settlers set sail on a perilous journey across the Atlantic on the Mayflower in search of religious liberty — setting in motion the most epic struggle for freedom and faith in the history of the world. Over a century later, following a bloody Revolutionary War fought to secure our God-given rights, the Virginia General Assembly moved to dismantle the tyrannical laws of the British Crown and replace them with statutes worthy of a free people. From that effort emerged the legendary Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. In that historic declaration, Founding Father Thomas Jefferson proclaimed that God “created the mind to be free” and that every individual “shall be free to profess their opinion in matters of religion.” These principles, codified into Virginia law on January 16, 1786, later became the foundation of our First Amendment, immortalizing in ink the free exercise of faith.
This year, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, my Administration is boldly bringing faith back to the public square because the freedom of religion means the freedom to practice your religion proudly, publicly, and without fear of persecution. As President, I am leading a renewal of faith in our schools, military, workplaces, hospitals, and halls of Government because the revolution of common sense is incomplete without a resurgence of faith in God. To further strengthen families and protect religious freedom, I established the White House Faith Office and the Religious Liberty Commission. I also proudly established a Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias, which is charged with identifying and eliminating all anti-Christian policies, practices, and conduct in executive departments and agencies. I directed the Department of Education to protect the foundational First Amendment right to prayer in public schools. And as part of my Administration’s historic Freedom 250 initiative, we launched America Prays — an invitation to Americans of every background to join together in prayer for wisdom, guidance, and blessing as our Republic enters its next great chapter.
From the establishment of the Jamestown Colony to the Pilgrims’ arrival at Plymouth Rock, through periods of war and peace and through every challenge and every triumph, religious faith has indelibly shaped our character, informed our laws, and strengthened our national spirit. This Religious Freedom Day, I pledge that I will never stop fighting to restore America as a Nation of prayer, a country of faith, and a radiant beacon of liberty and justice for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2026, as Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to commemorate this day with events and activities that honor our Nation’s proud history of religious freedom, and I especially encourage families to gather at places of worship to praise Almighty God for the blessings of liberty He has bestowed on our great country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
The post Religious Freedom Day, 2026 appeared first on The White House.
The initial section presents the navigation and branding structure for Presidential Actions on the White House website. It includes the main heading, a search bar, and site navigation menus that categorize presidential documents like Executive Orders, Proclamations, and Nominations, indicating this document falls under the category of Proclamations.
Following the header and navigation, the document formally begins with the standard declaration: "BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and identifies the text as "A PROCLAMATION."
This opening segment establishes the enduring principle that every person possesses the God-given right to practice faith and worship freely.
It frames Religious Freedom Day as an honorific moment to recognize America's unique founding upon this sacred principle and reaffirms a national commitment to this legacy, referencing the concept of being "one glorious Nation under God."
More than 400 years ago, a band of weary settlers set sail on a perilous journey across the Atlantic on the Mayflower in search of religious liberty — setting in motion the most epic struggle for freedom and faith in the history of the world. Over a century later, following a bloody Revolutionary War fought to secure our God-given rights, the Virginia General Assembly moved to dismantle the tyrannical laws of the British Crown and replace them with statutes worthy of a free people. From that effort emerged the legendary Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. In that historic declaration, Founding Father Thomas Jefferson proclaimed that God “created the mind to be free” and that every individual “shall be free to profess their opinion in matters of religion.” These principles, codified into Virginia law on January 16, 1786, later became the foundation of our First Amendment, immortalizing in ink the free exercise of faith.
This segment details the historical roots of religious freedom in the United States.
It references the Mayflower settlers, who sought liberty across the Atlantic over 400 years prior to the signing of the proclamation.
The text then highlights the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, enacted on January 16, 1786, as a direct result of post-Revolutionary War efforts to replace British laws.
It quotes Thomas Jefferson from that statute, asserting that God "created the mind to be free." These codified principles became the basis for the First Amendment, securing the free exercise of faith.
This year, as we celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence, my Administration is boldly bringing faith back to the public square because the freedom of religion means the freedom to practice your religion proudly, publicly, and without fear of persecution. As President, I am leading a renewal of faith in our schools, military, workplaces, hospitals, and halls of Government because the revolution of common sense is incomplete without a resurgence of faith in God. To further strengthen families and protect religious freedom, I established the White House Faith Office and the Religious Liberty Commission. I also proudly established a Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias, which is charged with identifying and eliminating all anti-Christian policies, practices, and conduct in executive departments and agencies. I directed the Department of Education to protect the foundational First Amendment right to prayer in public schools. And as part of my Administration’s historic Freedom 250 initiative, we launched America Prays — an invitation to Americans of every background to join together in prayer for wisdom, guidance, and blessing as our Republic enters its next great chapter.
This part connects the historical context with current administrative actions, noting the observance of the 250th anniversary of American independence.
The President asserts a commitment to integrating faith back into public life so that religious practice can occur proudly and publicly.
Specific actions undertaken by the administration are listed, including creating the White House Faith Office and the Religious Liberty Commission.
Furthermore, the text mentions establishing a Task Force to eliminate anti-Christian bias within executive agencies and directing the Department of Education to safeguard the right to prayer in public schools.
The segment concludes by promoting the 'America Prays' initiative as part of the broader Freedom 250 effort.
From the establishment of the Jamestown Colony to the Pilgrims’ arrival at Plymouth Rock, through periods of war and peace and through every challenge and every triumph, religious faith has indelibly shaped our character, informed our laws, and strengthened our national spirit. This Religious Freedom Day, I pledge that I will never stop fighting to restore America as a Nation of prayer, a country of faith, and a radiant beacon of liberty and justice for all.
This paragraph emphasizes the pervasive historical influence of religious faith on the national character, laws, and spirit, referencing early settlements like Jamestown and Plymouth Rock.
The text reinforces the President's pledge to continue efforts aimed at restoring the United States as a Nation of prayer and faith, presented as a "radiant beacon of liberty and justice."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2026, as Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to commemorate this day with events and activities that honor our Nation’s proud history of religious freedom, and I especially encourage families to gather at places of worship to praise Almighty God for the blessings of liberty He has bestowed on our great country.
This is the formal enacting clause of the proclamation.
The President, citing constitutional and legal authority, officially declares January 16, 2026, as Religious Freedom Day.
The text requests that Americans commemorate the day through activities that honor the nation's history of religious freedom.
It specifically encourages families to visit places of worship to thank God for the blessings of liberty received.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.
DONALD J. TRUMP
The post Religious Freedom Day, 2026 appeared first on The White House.
This concluding section provides the official execution and dating of the proclamation.
It states that the action was executed on January 16, 2026, which corresponds to the 250th year of American Independence.
The proclamation is then signed by Donald J. Trump, and the concluding footer notes the source and date of the document's publication.