President Trump at Liberty University Commencement: ‘In America, We Don’t Worship Government, We Worship God’

Veronica Neffinger | iBelieve Contributor | Updated: May 15, 2017

President Trump at Liberty University Commencement: ‘In America, We Don’t Worship Government, We Worship God’

President Donald Trump gave the commencement address at Liberty University’s graduation ceremony on Saturday. In his speech, the President spoke of religious liberty and made a number of references to God, reports The Christian Post.

One takeaway statement that received particular attention, especially from Christian commentators, was Trump’s assertion that, "America has always been the land of dreams because America is a nation of true believers. When the pilgrims landed at Plymouth, they prayed. When the founders wrote the Declaration of Independence, they invoked our Creator four times. Because in America, we don't worship government, we worship God."

"As long as I am your president, no one is ever going to stop you from practicing your faith," the President told the crowd of about 50,000 graduates, their friends, families, and professors--Liberty’s largest-ever Commencement Day crowd.

"Relish the opportunity to be an outsider. Embrace that label — being an outsider is fine, embrace the label — because it's the outsiders who change the world and who make a real and lasting difference. The more that a broken system tells you that you're wrong, the more certain you should be that you must keep pushing ahead, you must keep pushing forward," Trump continued, likely referring to his own persona of being a political outsider.

A number of Christian leaders praised the President’s address, including evangelist Franklin Graham. “I'm thankful we have a president who understands the importance of God in our nation's history and the importance of God in our nation's future. Aren't you?” Graham posted on Facebook.

Family Research Council President and Liberty Graduate Tony Perkins also praised Trump’s speech: “President Trump delivered an outstanding message today that I believe will resonate not only among Liberty University graduates but among Christians throughout America and around the world.”

Trump has spoken at Liberty University twice before delivering the commencement address. Liberty University’s Chancellor, Jerry Falwell Jr., has been one of the President’s most avid evangelical supporters throughout his campaign.

 

Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers keynote address during the commencement at Liberty University May 13, 2017 in Lynchburg, Virginia. President Trump is the first sitting president to speak at Liberty's commencement since George H.W. Bush spoke in 1990. 

Photo courtesy: Alex Wong/Getty Images

Publication date: May 15, 2017



President Trump at Liberty University Commencement: ‘In America, We Don’t Worship Government, We Worship God’