On February 5, 2025, Vice President J.D. Vance addressed the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit in Washington, D.C., emphasizing the Trump administration’s dedication to upholding religious liberty both domestically and internationally. He criticized previous U.S. engagements that funded non-governmental organizations promoting atheism abroad, stating, “That is not what leadership on protecting the rights of the faithful looks like, and it ends with this administration.”
Vance highlighted the administration’s actions to protect religious freedoms, including executive orders to end federal weaponization against religious Americans and pardons for pro-life activists. He underscored the importance of recognizing regimes that respect religious freedom and acting decisively against those that do not. Reflecting on the plight of Iraq’s Christians over the past decades, Vance called for moral clarity in U.S. foreign policy.
The Vice President also emphasized the Christian foundations of religious freedom, referencing early church teachings and the principle of rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s. He assured that under President Trump’s leadership, individuals would not have to abandon their faith in public life.
Vance’s remarks were met with strong support from faith leaders, religious liberty advocates, and international policy experts who have pushed for a renewed U.S. commitment to defending persecuted Christians and other religious minorities worldwide. With the Biden administration previously removing Nigeria from the Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list despite ongoing religious violence, many at the summit expressed optimism that the Trump administration would reverse course and take stronger action against regimes that repress religious expression.
