Trump’s Evangelical alliance alarms defenders of religious freedom - opinion

The recent gathering of predominantly conservative white Evangelicals on the National Mall, where former President Donald Trump spoke via video, represents a significant moment in the ongoing debate about the role of religion in American public life. This event, which organizers framed as a call to declare the United States a Christian nation, directly challenges the foundational principle of the separation of church and state, a cornerstone of American democracy since its inception.

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Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.

As articulated by figures like Thomas Jefferson, the "wall of separation" was intended to protect both religion and government from undue influence. The Founding Fathers, many of whom were deists or held diverse religious beliefs, were acutely aware of the religious wars and persecutions that plagued Europe when church and state were intertwined. Their deliberate decision to omit explicit religious references in the Constitution and to enshrine the Bill of Rights was a safeguard against replicating such conflicts.

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the wall of separation

The Treaty of Tripoli in 1797, ratified unanimously by the U.S. Senate, explicitly stated that the United States was "not in any sense founded on the Christian religion." This historical fact stands in stark contrast to the beliefs of Christian Nationalists who advocate for a religiously defined national identity. The event's organization, taxpayer funding, and participation of government officials underscore the increasing political mobilization of this movement and its ambition to reshape the nation's identity and governance.

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the United States is “not in any sense founded on the Christian religion.”