Vice-President JD Vance Champions Religious Freedom and Calls for Global Faith Unity at IRF Summit

Vice President J.D. Vance pledged expanded religious freedoms under the Trump administration during the IRF Summit, highlighting global threats to faith and advocating religious unity.

Speaking at the International Religious Freedom (IRF) 2025 Summit in Washington, Vice President J.D. Vance vowed that the Trump administration would not only restore but actively expand religious freedom protections. He condemned federal initiatives that undermine faith and pledged to end government-funded programs promoting atheism abroad.

“You shouldn’t have to leave your faith at the door of your people’s government. And under President Trump’s leadership, you won’t have to,” Vance told the diverse audience.

The IRF Summit, co-chaired by Sam Brownback and Katrina Lantos Swett, brought together international religious and political leaders. Speakers highlighted pressing threats to religious freedom, including persecution in China and Iran, the plight of Christians in Ukraine, and rising Islamic extremism across Africa.

Vance underscored the vital role of faith in uniting communities and fostering a sense of responsibility. “One of the wonderful apparent paradoxes of religion is that in connecting us to the sacred and to the universal, it deepens our commitment to our neighbours,” he noted.

The event also featured a symbolic water-pouring ceremony led by representatives of various faiths, including Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam. Sponsored by The Washington Times Foundation and the Universal Peace Federation, the gathering emphasised unity amid global religious challenges.

Addressing Japan’s efforts to dissolve the Unification Church, Vance defended its role in fostering diverse, faith-driven communities. “The church was a place where people of different races and backgrounds stood equal before their worship of God,” Vance remarked, urging lawmakers to support similar virtues.

Vance’s appearance reaffirmed the administration’s strong stance on religious liberty and commitment to global faith unity.

Watch part of his address below or directly on YouTube.