Dr. Phil Sides With Trump

Dr. Phil McGraw argued that religious liberty is coming under growing pressure in America, contending that many Christians feel they are being treated as second-class citizens while calling on Americans to embrace, not apologize for, their nation’s history and values.

McGraw made the comments Friday during an appearance on Newsmax’s Finnerty, just hours after President Donald Trump’s Presidential Religious Liberty Commission released a draft report recommending stronger protections for religious freedom across the nation.

The commission, chaired by Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick with Dr. Ben Carson serving as vice chairman, spent months gathering testimony from more than 100 witnesses who described what they believe are increasing threats to religious expression in schools, the military, healthcare, and the workplace.

Dr. Phil Says Religious Freedom Extends Beyond Houses of Worship

McGraw said the commission’s findings convinced him that concerns over religious liberty now reach far beyond the right to attend church, synagogue, or mosque.

“I do think that religious liberty is under attack in the United States,” McGraw said, adding that President Trump created the commission to examine those concerns and recommend ways to strengthen constitutional protections.

According to McGraw, witnesses described situations involving military service members, teachers, students, healthcare professionals, and others who said they faced pressure to act against their sincerely held religious beliefs.

“They’re telling us these issues are affecting every part of their lives,” McGraw said. “It’s no longer just about attending religious services. People believe their faith is influencing their ability to work, teach, serve in the military, and practice medicine.”

Commission Recommends Stronger Constitutional Protections

The commission’s draft report concludes that Americans from many walks of life believe religious liberty deserves greater legal protection.

Among the issues examined were:

• Religious freedom in public schools and universities
• Parental rights in education
• Faith-based organizations
• Healthcare conscience protections
• Religious liberty within the U.S. military
• Rising antisemitism
• Recommendations for Congress and federal agencies

Supporters of the commission say the recommendations are designed to reinforce First Amendment protections while ensuring Americans can practice their faith without government interference.

McGraw: Every American Should Be Free to Practice Their Faith

During the interview, McGraw emphasized that religious liberty applies equally to every American, regardless of their religion.

He said every citizen should have the freedom to choose and practice the faith of their choice without coercion.

At the same time, he argued that religious freedom also means individuals should not be forced to violate their own beliefs because of government policies or workplace requirements.

McGraw also distinguished the constitutional protection of religious liberty from extremist ideologies, saying those are separate issues.

Concerns Over Christians, Parents, and Faith-Based Institutions

McGraw said testimony presented to the commission highlighted growing concerns among many Christians, parents, and faith-based organizations.

He argued that parental rights have increasingly become a source of conflict in education while religious institutions have faced mounting legal and cultural challenges.

McGraw also pointed to rising antisemitism and the persecution of Christians in other parts of the world as reminders that religious liberty remains an important issue both domestically and internationally.

According to him, protecting the free exercise of religion remains one of America’s most important constitutional responsibilities.

“Christians Are Not Second-Class Citizens”

McGraw said he believes many Christians have become reluctant to publicly express their beliefs because they feel marginalized.

McGraw said he believes many Christians have been led to think they are being pushed aside in American society, but he argued that view does not reflect reality.

He added that many Americans—especially those living throughout the country’s heartland—are becoming more willing to openly defend their faith and constitutional rights.

As examples, McGraw referenced testimony from a teacher who displayed a cross in her classroom and former high school football coach Joe Kennedy, whose legal battle over praying on the football field ultimately resulted in a U.S. Supreme Court victory.

McGraw: America Shouldn’t Apologize for Its History

McGraw closed the interview by defending the United States and criticizing what he described as a growing tendency among some public figures to apologize for the country.

He acknowledged that America has never been perfect but argued that the nation has consistently worked to improve while remaining a global symbol of freedom and opportunity.

“We don’t need to apologize for America,” McGraw said. “Our country has faced challenges throughout its history, but we’ve continued learning, improving, and protecting the freedoms that make the United States unique.”

What Comes Next?

The Presidential Religious Liberty Commission is expected to continue refining its recommendations before submitting a final report to President Trump. Supporters hope the proposals will influence future legislation and federal policies involving religious freedom, parental rights, education, healthcare, military service, and the constitutional protections guaranteed under the First Amendment.

For many Americans following the commission’s work, the debate over religious liberty is likely to remain a major issue in the months ahead as lawmakers consider how best to balance constitutional rights with evolving public policy.