President Donald Trump didn’t hold back on Monday when he responded to Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) for his controversial remarks questioning the foundational American belief that rights are God-given. Trump called out Kaine’s comments during a speech at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., where he reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to defending religious freedoms and the nation’s identity as a nation under God.
Kaine, speaking during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing last week, took issue with comments from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had stated that rights are granted by a creator. Kaine called this belief “extremely troubling,” suggesting that rights should come from laws and government rather than from a higher power.
“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 said, implying that the idea of God-given rights was somehow foreign or oppressive.
Trump swiftly fired back, emphasizing that Kaine’s position was not just troubling, but antithetical to the core principles of America. “Under the Trump administration, we’re defending our rights and restoring our identity as a nation under God. We are one nation under God, and we always will be,” Trump said, adding that Kaine’s comments underscored the importance of defending the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as declared in the U.S. Declaration of Independence.
The president didn’t stop there, accusing Kaine of undermining the very essence of American freedoms. "The senator from Virginia should be ashamed of himself, for many things, for things even beyond that," Trump said, clearly unimpressed with Kaine’s position.
Trump went on to make clear that his administration would stand firm in its commitment to protect Judeo-Christian values, the principles that laid the foundation for the country. “As president, I will always defend our nation’s glorious heritage, and we will protect the Judeo-Christian principles of our founding and we will protect them with vigor,” he declared.
Trump wrapped up his remarks with a powerful call to action: “We have to bring back religion in America, bring it back stronger than ever before as our country grows stronger and stronger.” His words were a direct challenge to the growing secularism in the U.S., emphasizing the need for a return to traditional values to fortify the nation’s future.
As America grapples with rising ideological divisions, Trump’s unwavering defense of religious freedoms and God-given rights sends a clear message about the principles he believes should guide the nation’s future.
