In an article for Newsweek, Peter Burns, executive director of the International Religious Freedom Summit, highlights the impact of Donald Trump’s presidency on advancing global religious freedom. As Burns notes, Trump’s leadership marked a turning point, making religious freedom a core aspect of U.S. foreign policy.
A Historic Declaration at the United Nations
On September 23, 2019, President Trump addressed the United Nations with an unprecedented call for nations to end religious persecution. The event underscored the administration’s commitment to elevating religious freedom as a global priority.
Landmark Initiatives and Actions
Burns outlines a series of actions that defined Trump’s first term. The appointment of Samuel Brownback as ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom in 2017 brought a high level of expertise and focus to the role. Trump’s administration also directed aid to Christians and Yazidis in Iraq and Syria, who had suffered atrocities under ISIS, creating the New Partnerships Initiative to facilitate direct support to local religious organizations.
The release of Pastor Andrew Brunson from detention in Turkey in 2018, facilitated by Trump’s diplomatic pressure, symbolized the administration’s dedication to individual cases of persecution. Additionally, the State Department’s ministerial gatherings brought global attention to faith-based persecution, further cementing religious freedom as a key foreign policy issue.
A Global Coalition and Recognizing Genocide
Under Trump, the International Religious Freedom Alliance (now the Article 18 Alliance) grew to include 38 countries, promoting cooperation to defend persecuted communities.
Bipartisan Praise and the Path Ahead
Trump’s international religious freedom initiatives garnered rare bipartisan support. Burns emphasizes that this focus has remained one of the few areas of collaboration between Republicans and Democrats, fostering continued progress despite political gridlock.
Vision for a Second Term
Looking ahead, Burns highlights Trump’s plans for his second term, including appointing Senator Marco Rubio as secretary of state. Rubio’s record on international religious freedom reflect a continued commitment to combating religious persecution globally.
Trump has also pledged to protect persecuted Christians in the Middle East, and address antisemitism in the wake of rising global incidents since the October 7, 2023, terror attack in Israel.
Strengthening Global Trust
Burns argues that promoting religious freedom strengthens U.S. relationships with the global south, respecting cultural values while advancing a core American ideal. As religious persecution rises worldwide, he concludes that the next four years will be critical for a focused administration to make a lasting impact.
The International Religious Freedom Summit will convene in Washington, D.C., on February 4-5, 2024, bringing together advocates and policymakers to continue advancing this vital cause.