Historians Challenge Trump's Distorted View of American History

WHO:

Alternet - President Donald Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission

Alternet - Historian Matthew A. Sutton

Alternet - University of Notre Dame politics and religion scholar Dave Campbell

Alternet - Vox’s Christian Paz

Alternet - The Bulwark’s Charen

WHAT:

Alternet - A draft report from Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission presents a vision of America’s tradition of religious liberty.

Alternet - The report claims that the Founding Fathers’ documents were based on religious concepts.

Alternet - Sutton stated that the First Amendment was a practical response to unify the 13 colonies with different established churches.

Alternet - Campbell described the Founding Fathers as having varying opinions on American religion.

Alternet - Sutton noted a concerted effort by attorneys through religious organizations to impose a particular Christian viewpoint in public life.

Alternet - The religious right has gained influence during Trump’s presidency, blurring lines between church and state.

WHERE:

Alternet - The report discusses the religious landscape of the 13 colonies in America.

WHY:

Alternet - The report argues that the understanding of religious freedom has been corrupted by 20th-century European secularists and radical progressives.

Alternet - Sutton indicated that the First Amendment aimed to prevent conflict among different Christian groups.

HOW:

Alternet - The Trump administration’s report is characterized as biased toward a specific approach to Christianity in public life.

Alternet - Sutton mentioned the Bremerton decision regarding a high school football coach praying at games as an example of this bias.

(UPDATED July 5, 2026 15:20 UTC)

A draft report from President Trump's Religious Liberty Commission presents a vision of America's tradition of religious liberty, claiming that the Founding Fathers' documents were rooted in religious concepts. Historian Matthew A. Sutton noted that the First Amendment was designed to unify the 13 colonies with their diverse established churches, while also highlighting a concerted effort by attorneys through religious organizations to impose a specific Christian viewpoint in public life. The report argues that the understanding of religious freedom has been distorted by 20th-century European secularists and radical progressives, with Sutton citing the Bremerton decision about a high school football coach praying at games as an example of this bias.