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President Donald Trump confirmed his support of displaying the Ten Commandments in public schools on Saturday.
The 45th president confirmed his favorable response to the recent Louisiana law during his speech at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Road to Majority conference in Washington, D.C.
“Who likes the Ten Commandments going up in the schools?” Trump asked.
“They think it’s such a bad thing. I said, ‘Thou shall.’ I mean, has anybody read this? Incredible stuff. It’s just incredible. They don’t want it to go up. It’s a crazy world,” Trump continued.
The strong words on the issue followed Trump’s clear support of the Ten Commandments in schools in a Truth Social post on Friday.
“I LOVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PRIVATE SCHOOLS, AND MANY OTHER PLACES, FOR THAT MATTER. READ IT — HOW CAN WE, AS A NATION, GO WRONG??? THIS MAY BE, IN FACT, THE FIRST MAJOR STEP IN THE REVIVAL OF RELIGION, WHICH IS DESPERATELY NEEDED, IN OUR COUNTRY. BRING BACK TTC!!! MAGA2024” Trump wrote.
The new emphasis on the Ten Commandments in public schools comes after Louisiana Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed a law on Wednesday that requires the display of the biblical teachings in “large, easily readable font” in all public classrooms from kindergarten to state-funded universities.
The law also “authorizes” but does not require the display of other well-known declarations in public schools, including the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence and the Northwest Ordinance.
The law is expected to face legal challenges in court from opponents, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation.
The groups released a joint statement following the governor’s signing.
“The law violates the separation of church and state and is blatantly unconstitutional,” the groups wrote in the statement.
“The First Amendment promises that we all get to decide for ourselves what religious beliefs, if any, to hold and practice, without pressure from the government. Politicians have no business imposing their preferred religious doctrine on students and families in public schools,” they added.
Trump has continued to support evangelical Christians during his campaign. During the Saturday Faith and Freedom event, he also promised to create a task force to fight anti-Christian bias, including support for pro-life activists.