‘Our Currency Declares in God We Trust’
President Donald Trump tried to convince attendees at Thursday morning’s National Prayer Breakfast that he is one of them and believes America is a nation founded in faith by reminding them that “In God We Trust” is printed on U.S. currency. The president pushed his version of Christian nationalism by telling them several places where God is mentioned in American institutions.
“Each year this event reminds us that faith is central to American life, and to liberty,” Trump told the 3000 or so attendees. “The founders invoked our creator four times in the Declaration of Independence. Our currency declares, ‘In God We Trust.’ And we place our hands on our hearts as we recite the Pledge of Allegiance and proclaim we are ‘one nation under God.'”
“Our rights are not given to us by man. Our rights come from our Creator,” the president claimed. “No matter what, no earthly force can take those rights away.”
“That is why the words, ‘Praise be to God’ are etched atop the Washington Monument,” Trump added.Â
Technically, “Laus Deo,” Latin for “Praise be to God” is etched atop the 1884 structure.
Trump neglected to note that “In God We Trust” only became the nation’s motto in 1956, and was added to U.S. currency one year later in an attempt to push back on communism. Nor did he note that what we call the Pledge of Allegiance was not adopted until 1942. These can hardly be considered proof that America is a founded in faith.
Â
Â