Christian, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders are cautiously optimistic heading into the new year with the second Trump administration.
This week, Fox News Digital spoke with leaders from various faith communities, many of whom expressed hope that the incoming administration would lead in the right direction but worried that President-elect Trump will continue to assert himself.
“There are some (Jewish) communities that feel positive and optimistic, and there are some communities that feel very concerned,” said New York City Rabbi Joe David, who has a private rabbinic practice.
President-elect Trump and the rosary (AP Image/Evan Vucci/BrianAJackson via iStock)
“I think there is a mixed reaction, but there is skeptical optimism,” said Harris Tareen, vice president of policy and programs at the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
Lorenzo Sewell, senior pastor at 180 Church in Detroit, said: Trump has a chance To be classified as “the greatest president in history” if he plays his cards right. “The only thing he needs to do is organize the (appropriate) resources properly.”
Samuel Rodriguez is the lead pastor of New Season, a prominent American megachurch, and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. He echoed the sense of hope felt by some religious leaders as they look forward to Inauguration Day.
Mother and girl hand in hand praying over the Bible together. (Istock)
“I think we will see a stronger focus on protection Religious freedom “And ensuring that faith communities are empowered to thrive,” Rodriguez said. “Policies that respect the role of faith-based organizations in society – whether they are feeding the hungry or educating children Or defend life -You are likely to take center stage. “I also expect an administration that values the contributions of people of faith, not as something to be tolerated but as a fundamental cornerstone of our nation.”
with regard to jewish community, Rabbi Abraham Cooper, former chairman of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom and director of global social action at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, said anti-Semitism, especially on social media and college campuses, and “embracing Hamas rhetoric” are dangerous. Top priority.
A banner at the anti-Israel camp at the University of Chicago included slogans such as “Open the gates, globalize the intifada” and “We will honor all our martyrs.” (Joseph A. Wolfson/Fox News Digital)
“We expect and hope for a completely different approach from the next administration,” Cooper said. He added: “We expect that the billions and billions in sanctions relief provided by President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken to the regime that sponsors terrorism in Iran will expire.”
Cooper also said that construction on and development abraham agreements, A series of bilateral agreements on Arab-Israeli normalization between Israel and the United Arab Emirates will be important.
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For Tareen, the greatest hope among the Muslim community, he says, is that Trump's 2020 order regarding… Banning people from some Islamic countries From coming to the United States
“No. 2, the hope is that the rights of all Americans, including Muslim Americans, their civil rights and civil liberties and the issues they stand for will be protected. No. 3, the hope is a ceasefire and an end to the war.” “For the conflict in the Middle East, specifically in Gaza,” Tareen said.
He added that it would be beneficial for Trump to adopt parts of the Biden administration's national strategy on Islamophobia.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Trump-Vance transition team for comment but did not receive a response.
