Evangelicals Outline Priorities for Trump’s Second Term: Religious Freedom, Family Rights, and Global Peace

With Donald Trump poised to begin his second term, many evangelical leaders are expressing high hopes for new policies that advance religious freedom, family values, and peace in foreign affairs. Pastor Robert Jeffress, a prominent Southern Baptist leader and longtime supporter of Trump, voiced optimism about the recent election results, saying, “Our people were elated, for the most part, over the election results.” Jeffress and other evangelical advisers are urging the president-elect to continue building on what they see as key achievements from his first term.

Key Concerns: Religious Freedom and Anti-Christian Bias

For Jeffress, one of the top priorities is protecting religious freedom, ensuring that Americans can exercise their faith without restrictions. He called for safeguards against limitations on religious expression, including allowing pastors to preach freely and permitting employees to act on their beliefs in workplaces, from doctors opposed to performing abortions to high school coaches wishing to pray publicly.

Trump, during his campaign, promised to establish a federal task force to combat “anti-Christian bias.” He warned that without his leadership, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris might target Christians across the nation. Additionally, Trump has pledged to repeal the Johnson Amendment, which limits churches from endorsing political candidates. Having signed an executive order weakening it in his first term, he now aims to eliminate it entirely, ensuring churches retain their tax-exempt status while participating more freely in political advocacy.

Franklin Graham’s Foreign Policy Hopes: Ukraine and Israel

The Rev. Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham and head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, said he hopes Trump will address pressing international concerns, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East. Graham suggested appointing a special ambassador to negotiate with Russia in an effort to bring an end to the conflict in Ukraine. He also pointed to Trump’s role in the Abraham Accords, which sought to normalize relations between Israel and neighboring Arab countries, expressing hope that Trump would continue his efforts to achieve peace in the region amid the current Israel-Hamas conflict.

In a speech, Trump criticized the Biden administration’s approach to the Israel-Hamas war, urging Israel to “finish the job” against Hamas. Graham said Trump’s decision to appoint real estate tycoon Steven Witkoff as a Mideast envoy demonstrates his commitment to working toward a comprehensive peace solution.

Evangelical Concerns over Children’s Rights and Gender Policies

Rev. Samuel Rodriguez and Rev. Tony Suarez, leaders of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and Trump faith advisers, outlined another priority: protecting children’s and parental rights, particularly regarding transgender youth and gender-affirming medical interventions. Many conservative Christians, including Rodriguez and Suarez, have increasingly opposed policies allowing gender-affirming care for minors, arguing for restrictions.

Trump campaigned on this issue, pledging to scale back protections for transgender students. His campaign released ads contrasting his stance with that of Kamala Harris, declaring, “Kamala is for they/them. President Trump is for you.” Rodriguez emphasized that evangelicals want policies that prevent government interference in children’s medical and personal development, particularly concerning gender identity, advocating for family-centered decision-making.

Limited Government and Evangelical Values

According to Jeffress, evangelicals support Trump because they see him as someone who will respect the biblical role of government. “God never commanded government to lead a spiritual revival in America,” Jeffress said. “That is the responsibility of the church.” He argued that government’s role is to protect citizens and allow Christians to practice their faith freely, rather than imposing moral or spiritual standards.

With Trump set to take office again, evangelicals anticipate an administration that will promote religious freedom, support traditional family values, and pursue peace abroad, as they look to build on the policies and principles they championed during his first term.