00:00In May of last year, I established the Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty to outline threats to the free exercise
00:06of religion in our country and to provide recommendations for action.
00:11America was founded by people of faith and it was settled as a haven for religious freedom.
00:17So important as we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our founding next week, it is only appropriate that
00:24we work to strengthen this fundamental right and to most essentially have liberty for generations to come.
00:32We want religious liberty. We want liberty, but we also want religious liberty.
00:36And we will closely study this report that is being presented to me as president today and my administration will
00:44continue to work with the really the pillars of protecting religious liberty for all Americans.
00:51And we must also remain one nation under God. We will never let that phrase be stolen from us.
00:58You know, people are trying to steal it. We all know that very well. That phrase will never be stolen.
01:04And it will stand proudly in our courts and everywhere else where we have it.
01:08And I want to thank this great team of outstanding work. And I'd like to start off with the chairman,
01:14Dan Patrick, and say a few words about the report and followed by a couple of the people that I
01:21know up here so well.
01:23And they're going to speak at random if they want. But it will be followed by vice chairman, Dr. Ben
01:29Carson.
01:30So, Dan, if you would, you'll start it off. And then Ben, and then you could say a few words,
01:34everybody, as you want. Thank you.
01:36Yes, sir. First of all, Mr. President, thank you for hosting us today. And thank you for establishing this commission.
01:42It was just 13 months ago when we stood in the Rose Garden. Now it's an incredibly beautiful Rose Garden
01:49today.
01:50We stood there and we talked about religious liberty and that no president in our history has stood more for
01:58God than this president.
02:01He has been unashamed to speak the word of Jesus. He's been unashamed to speak up for all faiths.
02:07And he established this commission so that we would assure Americans that religious liberty, that this great inheritance from our
02:15founding fathers, would continue for another 250 years.
02:19And, Mr. President, we believe this will be one of your greatest legacies.
02:23And you happen to be the perfect president to be here in the 250th celebration.
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