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Trump Promotes 'Religious Freedom' Initiative Amid Criticisms Over Travel Ban

Eunjung Cho

   WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump highlighted his efforts to promote
   religious freedom at home and abroad during an unusually raucous
   appearance before the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday.

   "To protect faith communities, I have taken historic action to defend
   religious liberty, including the constitutional right to pray in public
   schools," he told the crowd of 3,000 faith leaders who were primarily
   Christians.

   Trump was referring to the federal guidance announced Jan. 16that
   public schools must certify they allow students to engage in voluntary
   prayers. He also reminded the crowd about his promise to end the
   Johnson Amendment, which prohibits churches from endorsing or opposing
   political candidates.

   "Today, we proudly proclaim that faith is alive and well and thriving
   in America. And we're going to keep it that way," he said.

   Both partieshost event

   Founded in 1953 by President Dwight Eisenhower, the prayer breakfast is
   hosted by lawmakers of both parties and is meant to promote unity and
   stress the importance of prayer and faith.

   Trump -- who was acquitted by the Senate of two impeachment charges on
   Wednesday -- vented against Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, the only Senate
   Republican to vote for conviction on one of the charges,and House
   Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who led the effort in the House to impeach the
   president.

   Without specifically naming him, Trump said of Romney, a Mormon, "I
   don't like people who use their faith as justification for doing what
   they know is wrong."

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