President Trump Attends Religious Liberty Commission Meeting, Hears Testimony from Young Student

Washington, D.C. – Former President Donald Trump attended a meeting of the Religious Liberty Commission at the Museum of the Bible, where he stood with a 12-year-old boy, Shane Cetus, who shared his story of facing pressure in school to promote gender change concepts despite his Christian faith. The testimony sparked a broader discussion during the event about religious freedom in schools, the role of parents in education, and the ongoing debate over cultural values in the United States.

A Child's Story of Faith and Conflict

Shane Cetus introduced himself as a lifelong Christian, explaining that his faith has been central to his life since early childhood. He recalled a vivid experience from the fifth grade in which his school instructed him to teach his assigned kindergarten buddy about gender expressions using a children’s book titled My Shadow is Pink. According to Cetus, the book encouraged young readers to consider gender as a matter of personal choice rather than based on biological sex.

Cetus said the assignment directly contradicted his beliefs. Struggling with the conflict, he admitted he worried about disobeying his school while remaining true to his religious convictions. When his family raised concerns with school officials about the situation, Cetus said the response was not supportive. Instead, the environment grew hostile, and both he and his brother faced bullying from peers after voicing their faith-based objections.

Despite the challenges, Cetus told attendees that he chose to continue trusting in God. His message concluded with an appeal: children, he said, should have the right to freely practice their faith in school without being compelled to participate in activities against their beliefs. His words prompted an attentive silence among the audience and nods of agreement from faith-based advocates gathered at the commission meeting.

Trump’s Response to the Testimony

Following Cetus’s account, former President Trump addressed the meeting, praising the boy’s courage and resilience. Trump described the incident as an example of what he called the “woke agenda,” and suggested that such cultural pressures in schools were diminishing. He asserted that this agenda was “practically gone,” signaling his perspective that movements promoting progressive ideologies have begun to lose momentum.

The statement received strong applause from the audience, many of whom had come to the commission meeting to emphasize religious liberty as a constitutional priority. Trump’s comments reflected his long-standing alignment with faith-based communities, a group that has historically played a major role in his political coalition.

Historical Context of Religious Freedom in Schools

The concept of religious freedom in public education has been contested in the United States for more than half a century. Landmark Supreme Court decisions in the 1960s, such as Engel v. Vitale and Abington School District v. Schempp, established strict boundaries between state-mandated religious exercises and individual rights to practice faith freely in school. These rulings determined that school-sponsored prayer and Bible readings violated the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause.

However, individual students retain the right to express their faith, carry religious texts, and decline participation in activities that violate their beliefs. Over the decades, tension has frequently arisen over how to balance protections for minority faith expressions with schools’ obligations to deliver inclusive curricula. The issue resurfaced in intensified ways in the 21st century, as cultural debates over gender identity and sexuality entered classrooms nationwide.

The Economic and Cultural Dimensions

Debates surrounding gender instruction and religious liberty in schools also carry economic and social implications. Parents dissatisfied with public education policies have increasingly turned to alternatives such as private religious schools, homeschooling, and charter schools, fueling growth in those sectors. According to education industry reports, enrollment in private Christian schools grew steadily between 2020 and 2023, while homeschooling rates reached record highs during the pandemic and have remained elevated since.

Beyond education spending, the dispute affects fundraising and political campaigns. Advocacy organizations centered on parental rights, religious freedom, and educational choice have raised millions of dollars by galvanizing communities concerned about these cultural flashpoints. Meanwhile, public school districts face mounting costs related to defending curriculum decisions in court, implementing staff training, and counseling services after incidents escalate into disputes.

Regional Comparisons in Handling Religious Liberty

The United States remains deeply fractured in its approach to religious and cultural disputes in schools, with states adopting starkly different policies.

• In states such as Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma, legislation has prioritized parental rights, emphasizing exemptions for students objecting to certain classroom content on religious grounds.
• States such as California, New York, and Massachusetts, on the other hand, have advanced comprehensive inclusion policies that encourage lessons affirming diverse gender identities and sexual orientations.
• In the Midwest and parts of the South, the debate has swung back and forth, with school boards facing contentious elections as communities weigh how curricula should reflect or limit cultural shifts.

This regional divergence has heightened tensions nationally, often drawing federal officials into local battles. The testimony delivered by Shane Cetus at the Museum of the Bible highlights the personal impact these policies can have on students navigating conflicting directives at school.

Reactions from the Religious Liberty Commission Event

Attendees at the Religious Liberty Commission gathering responded with a mix of solemnity and resolve. Several faith leaders provided remarks underscoring their commitment to defending children and families who, like Cetus, feel ostracized or pressured to abandon their religious beliefs in educational settings. They praised the boy’s testimony as an example of youthful courage and a reminder of why the commission exists.

Audience members also remarked on the choice of venue, the Museum of the Bible, which has frequently hosted high-profile discussions on matters of faith and culture. The symbolic setting reinforced the themes of the meeting, placing individual experiences within the broader historical struggle of protecting freedom of religion in America.

Broader Implications for Education

The story of Shane Cetus reflects a wider national debate that blends questions of religious freedom, child development, and educational authority. For some, his account is evidence of an overreach by school systems into areas of personal belief and family values. For others, it underscores the challenges schools face in balancing inclusivity with respecting diverse perspectives.

What is clear is that the tension shows no signs of dissipating. With former President Trump highlighting the issue on a national stage, pressure is likely to grow on schools, lawmakers, and communities to clarify policies and establish boundaries. Nor is the United States alone in grappling with such conflicts. Similar debates have emerged across Europe, Canada, and Australia, where educators and parents are negotiating how to teach about gender identity while accommodating deeply held religious traditions.

Looking Ahead

As the Religious Liberty Commission continues its work, testimonies like that of Shane Cetus stand as powerful reminders of the intersection between personal conviction and public education. For families of faith, the event signaled renewed attention to protecting religious freedom in classrooms. For Trump, it offered an opportunity to reaffirm his alignment with a significant political and cultural base.

The tension between inclusivity and faith-based values remains a defining feature of modern education policy. As communities debate and courts weigh in, the experiences of students like Cetus will continue to shape the conversation. The Washington meeting highlighted the human dimension of this struggle — a reminder that beyond legal frameworks and policy debates, the lives of children and families hang in the balance.