Senator Josh Hawley’s latest move demands attention: a bill to etch “In God We Trust” across federal buildings.
Fox News reported that on Tuesday, Hawley, a Missouri Republican, introduced legislation requiring the national motto’s display in all federal structures, with the U.S. General Services Administration tasked to ensure compliance within a year if the bill passes.
The motto, adopted in 1956 amid fears of atheist communism, reflects a historical nod to faith, which Hawley argues remains vital to America’s identity.
“Our national motto goes all the way back to the days of President Lincoln,” he declared, tying it to the nation’s roots. Yet, skeptics might wonder if mandating displays risks alienating those who value secular governance.
Hawley’s bill aligns with a broader push to reassert faith’s role in public life, especially as the nation nears its 250th anniversary.
He insists the “In God We Trust Act” will remind Americans that liberty stems from a higher power, not government. This claim, while bold, sidesteps the nuance of a pluralistic society where not all share the same spiritual convictions.
“The 'In God We Trust Act' will ensure that the federal government—as well as the American people for whom it works—never forgets the ultimate source of the liberty and prosperity this country enjoys,” Hawley stated.
His rhetoric soars, but critics could argue it glosses over the complexities of governing a diverse nation. Forcing displays might feel less like unity and more like a cultural flex.
The legislative effort follows President Donald Trump’s “America Prays” initiative, launched to encourage weekly prayer gatherings for the nation’s well-being.
Trump’s program, though lacking legal weight, urges Americans to join at least 10 others in prayer. It’s a feel-good call, but its vagueness leaves room for questions about its practical impact.
Trump doubled down on this theme during a September 8, 2025, speech at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Religious Liberty Commission.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers praised the president, saying, “President Trump has revived one of America’s most prominent and powerful founding principles — we are one nation under God.” The statement’s fervor is undeniable, but it risks painting dissenters as unpatriotic, a tactic that could deepen division.
Rogers added, “As we approach the 250th anniversary of the greatest country in the world, President Trump invites Americans to pray for our nation and for our people.”
The patriotic flourish is classic Trump, yet it sidesteps how prayer, while meaningful to many, isn’t a universal fix for national challenges. Some might see it as a distraction from policy solutions.
Hawley’s bill and Trump’s initiative come on the heels of a heated Senate debate between Tim Kaine and Ted Cruz over America’s Christian roots.
Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, sparked controversy by comparing the idea of God-given rights to the ideology of Iran’s government. His point, while provocative, seems to caution against blurring church and state lines too boldly.
“The notion that rights don’t come from laws and don’t come from the government, but come from the Creator — that’s what the Iranian government believes,” Kaine argued.
His comparison is a rhetorical grenade, implying that divine-right arguments could justify authoritarianism. It’s a stretch, but it highlights the stakes in this cultural tug-of-war.
Kaine continued, “The statement that our rights do not come from our laws or our governments is extremely troubling.” He’s waving a red flag about governance rooted in theology over law, a concern that resonates with those wary of theocratic overreach. Still, his framing risks alienating voters who see faith as a moral anchor, not a threat.
Cruz, a Texas Republican, fired back, stunned by Kaine’s stance: “I almost fell out of my chair because that 'radical and dangerous notion' — in his words — is literally the founding principle upon which the United States of America was created.”
Quoting Thomas Jefferson, Cruz recited, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.” Cruz’s appeal to the Declaration of Independence is a masterstroke, but it doesn’t erase the tension between faith-based and secular interpretations of rights.
Cruz didn’t stop there, lambasting Kaine’s view as a betrayal of American principles: “The casual condemnation of America’s founding principle is exactly what is wrong with today’s Democrat Party.”
His zinger lands hard, framing Democrats as out of touch with the nation’s heritage. Yet, his indignation might overplay the Founding Fathers’ intent, given their own debates over religion’s role in governance.
