The president spoke during a hearing on religious liberty at the Museum of the Bible, which featured testimony from students and parents.
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump on Sept. 8 announced that the Department of Education will issue new guidance protecting the right to prayer.
“I’m pleased to announce this morning that the Department of Education will soon issue new guidance protecting the right to prayer in our public schools,” Trump said in a speech at the Museum of the Bible.
He called up a fifth-grader named Shay Encenas, who recalled having to read a book to a kindergarten student about changing his gender called “My Shadow is Pink.”
“The book said you can choose your gender based on feelings instead of how God made us. I knew this was not right, but I was afraid of getting in trouble,” he said.
The boy alleged that he was mistreated by his school and his schoolmates after his family spoke up.
“I believe kids like me should be able to live our faith at school without being forced to go against what we believe,” Shay said. “I hope no other family has to go through what mine did.”
The event marked the second hearing of the Religious Liberty Commission, created by Trump in May through an executive order aimed at protecting the free exercise of religion. It focused on religious freedom in public schools and included testimony from students and parents.
During the first part of the hearing, Lydia Booth, a student from Mississippi, shared her story of being prohibited from wearing a “Jesus Loves Me” face mask while in third grade at a public elementary school during the COVID-19 pandemic. She and her mother challenged the decision in court, and after two years the case was settled, affirming students’ rights to express their faith. Booth said the experience taught her an important lesson, that “you are never too young for your voice to matter.”
Other witnesses included Justin Aguilar, who was warned by school administrators not to include religious references in his valedictorian speech, and Valerie Cleveringa, who said her school tried to bar her from singing a religious song in the school talent show.
During his speech, Trump announced that he delivered his family Bible, gifted by his mother and used in his inaugurations, to be displayed in the Museum of the Bible, calling it an honor.
Trump praised religious leaders, saying they currently have less influence than they deserve.
“We have to give your voices back,” he said.
By Emel Akan and Jackson Richman
