Speaking at a Religious Liberty Commission meeting Monday in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump said he plans to have the Department of Education issue new guidance protecting prayer in public schools.

President Donald Trump speaks at a Religious Liberty Commission meeting at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI UPI Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner (R) speaks alongside President Donald Trump. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI UPI Pastor Paula White listens to a prayer led by Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI UPI TV personality Phil McGraw (L) and Cardinal Timothy Dolan (R) wait to hear President Donald Trump speak. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI UPI Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is the chairman of the Religious Liberty Commission. Photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI UPI

Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Speaking at a Religious Liberty Commission meeting Monday in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump said he plans to have the Department of Education issue new guidance protecting prayer in public schools.

Trump made the appearance during the meeting at the Museum of the Bible, which was founded by Steve Green of the Hobby Lobby Green family. Trump didn't provide a clear timeline or details about the new directive.

"For most of our country's history, the Bible was found in every classroom in the nation, yet in many schools today, students are indoctrinated with anti-religious propaganda," the president said.

The U.S. Supreme Court has banned most prayer in public schools in a number of decisions since the 1960s. In recent years, however, states have been pushing to reintroduce religion to classrooms.

In 2024, Louisiana became the first state to require a copy of the Ten Commandments be posted in public classrooms, and Arkansas and Texas followed suit this year.

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The American Civil Liberties Union said it's fighting to defend the separation of church and state.

"When states impose religious doctrine, beliefs or practices on public schools, it marginalizes students who don't share those beliefs and treats them as welcome," wrote Heather L. Weaver, senior staff attorney at ACLU's Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief.

"Students who do not feel safe and welcome in their school cannot focus on learning."

Trump decried religious violence, pointing to the Aug. 27 shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis that killed two children and injured 21 other people.

"I've made clear, Attorney General Pam Bondi is working really hard that we must get answers about the causes of these repeated attacks, and we're working very, very hard on that," Trump said. "The Trump administration will have no tolerance for terrorism or political violence, and that includes hate crimes against Christians, Jews or anybody else."

Last week, the Trump administration announced it might limit firearms access for those identifying as transgender, accusing them of having mental illness. The shooter at the Minneapolis church was identified as Robin Westman, a transgender woman who previously attended the school at the church.

A spokesperson with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation accused the Trump administration of scapegoating transgender people.

"Instead of actual solutions, the administration is again choosing to scapegoat and target a small and vulnerable population," the GLAAD representative said. "Everyone deserves to be themselves, be safe and be free from violence and discrimination."