Trump Hosts White House Faith Office Luncheon

‘We have to bring religion back into the country, and we’re starting to do that ... at a very high level,’ the president said.

President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a White House Faith Office luncheon in the State Dining Room at the White House on July 14, 2025. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

President Donald Trump hosted a luncheon put on by the White House Faith Office on July 14.

In his speech at the luncheon, Trump covered numerous topics, as he touted bringing faith back into the national conversation.

“We have to bring religion back into the country, and we’re starting to do that, I think, at a very high level,” he said.

“We’re getting rid of the Johnson Amendment that didn’t let the pastors speak.”

The IRS announced on July 7 that it is reinterpreting an IRS rule that dates back to 1954, called the Johnson Amendment, to allow faith leaders to endorse candidates without fear that their institutions will lose their tax-exempt status.

“We’re going to continue the fight for [the] Judeo-Christian values of our founding fathers,” Trump said.

On July 13, he praised God for saving his life one year ago in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a would-be assassin tried to kill the then-presidential candidate at a campaign rally. July 13 marked one year since the incident.

“It’s remarkable to think that it was only one year ago this week that my time on Earth nearly ended,” Trump said.

“I do believe that my life was saved by God to really make America great again.”

The president also spoke about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which he signed on July 4. It makes permanent the 2017 individual tax cuts, raises the debt ceiling, and includes funding for border security and the military.

“The Senate was tougher than the House,” the president said, recalling the difficulty of getting votes in the Senate.

“Actually, amazingly, it shouldn’t have been. We had a slightly bigger margin [in] the Senate proportionally, but it was brutal.

“They said, ‘Sir, we have 12 hard Nos.’ You know, hard No is not recoverable, right?”

He singled out Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) for voting against the legislation.

“Rand Paul, who always votes No. They call him Just Say No. I got him elected. I had to go to Kentucky twice to do rallies to get him elected. But they forget. A lot of politicians forget,” he said.

“Tillis was a No. They said he was brave. But he resigned the following morning.”

Tillis announced his retirement on June 29, prior to the Senate’s passage of the act but has not resigned.

Trump ordered the creation of the White House Faith Office in February “to assist faith-based entities, community organizations, and houses of worship in their efforts to strengthen American families, promote work and self-sufficiency, and protect religious liberty.”

The office is led by televangelist Paula White.