The Umbrella group for Atheism in the US, American Atheists, reports another disturbing episode where the current nationalist regime in the White House appears not to understand that the Republic was based on separation of church and state.
They say "“President Trump Reaffirms America as a Beacon for Christian Liberty,” said the White House last weekend. The statement went on:. “...faith is not a private matter to be silenced by government — but a foundational strength of our Republic.”
And then the government loudly followed suit.
The Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Justice all pushed overtly Christian messages on official channels. In the following days, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continued invoking religion to sanctify the war in Iran, likening the rescue of a downed U.S. pilot to Jesus’s resurrection. At the Department of Agriculture, Secretary Brooke Rollins emailed every agency employee that “Christ is Risen.” Even some Christian staffers reported feeling offended and alienated. You can imagine how their nonreligious colleagues felt.
Officials insist this is harmless, within their rights, good old (and not at all sinful) pride. It’s not controversial; it’s very, very normal.
This is not normal. And it wasn’t so long ago this kind of overtly Christian, government-endorsed messaging would have been widely understood to be a clear breach of the Establishment Clause.
That's why American Atheists is sending Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to these agencies. We intend to find out exactly how these messages were pushed out and whether atheists and other staff who object to this religious takeover of our government are facing recrimination or discrimination for voicing their opposition. Chip in today to help our legal team hold these officials accountable for their abuses of power.
For the record, the Constitution has not changed. But Christian Nationalists are intent on distorting its words beyond the Founders’ recognition. First, redefine religious liberty and recast freedom from religion as discrimination against religion. Next, things move quickly from rhetoric to real, with naysayers or nonconformists deemed hostile enemies.
We are in Phase II. The executive branch has already moved to “eradicate anti-Christian bias,” issued a national security memo targeting so-called “anti-Christian” organizations and is preparing a Justice Department report accusing the previous administration of being “anti-Christian.” At the same time, top State Department officials are urging other nations to treat certain ideologies as “political terrorism,” not mere protest.
And that’s how disagreement — and disbelief — is turned into a threat to be combatted.
At a private White House luncheon on Good Friday, the head of the White House Faith Office compared the president to Jesus. Some religious leaders called it blasphemy. Others spoke up after Trump's expletive-laden social media post on Easter Sunday.
Not many have condemned Trump’s own comments at that event, when he said there are “groups of people” who reject the national motto, “In God We Trust.” “They’re crazy,” he said. “There’s no talking to these people… We don’t deal with them. We cast them aside.”
The President of the United States said that about our fellow American Atheists.
Not trusting in God does not make you or I less American, but rejecting our Constitution absolutely does.
The Founders understood when a government decides which beliefs are acceptable, it’s only a matter of time before it decides which people are acceptable and which ought be cast aside.
As we approach our country’s 250th birthday, the question is no longer whether this is happening but whether we’re willing to do all we can to stop it. On behalf of our whole team at American Atheists, I can assure you: We are."
