On June 1, President Donald Trump issued a statement to commemorate Global Coptic Day. Among other things, he said:
“Today, I join the Coptic Orthodox Christian community in observing Global Coptic Day… Tracing its roots to Saint Mark, the apostle of Jesus Christ and the evangelist who brought the Christian faith to Egypt in the first century, the Coptic Church has been a beacon of Christendom in Africa for nearly 2,000 years. The Coptic community has left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions of Christians — most evidently seen in their timeless contributions to Christian theology and culture. This Global Coptic Day, we also pause to reflect upon the vicious and ongoing persecution of Coptic Orthodox Christians in Africa and across the Middle East. In 2015, 21 Coptic construction workers were brutally executed by ISIS terrorists in Libya. Like persecuted Christians all around the world, these heroic martyrs refused to renounce their faith. They exemplified sacrificial love and steadfast devotion to God, even in the face of certain death. The Copts’ persistence amid relentless persecution is a living testament to their unbreakable resolve and fearless dedication to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Trump’s statement is obviously powerful, but it’s more than that — it is rare. Unlike his predecessors, Trump has consistently acknowledged the brutal and ongoing persecution of Christians in the Muslim world, especially in Egypt, where Copts have long endured systemic violence, discrimination, and neglect.
And that persecution continues till this day. One week after Trump’s statement, the Virgin Mary Church in Luxor, Egypt, became the latest to go up in flames. So-called “accidental” church fires have become disturbingly commonplace in Egypt, with authorities reflexively ruling out arson often before an investigation even begins.
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Nor is this a new position for Trump. During his first term, he addressed the issue bluntly. In 2020, he remarked on the “ongoing challenges facing the largest Christian group [Copts] in the Middle East,” emphasizing the need to “acknowledge the importance of religious freedom” and to “reaffirm our commitment to promoting and defending this core tenet of a free society.”
That year, he also called the treatment of Christians in the region “beyond disgraceful,” saying Christianity was being “treated horribly and very unfairly — it’s criminal.”
Perhaps most memorably, following the 2017 massacre of 28 Copts — including 10 children — by Islamic gunmen in Egypt, Trump stated:
“This merciless slaughter of Christians in Egypt tears at our hearts and grieves our souls… America makes clear to its friends, allies, and partners that the treasured and historic Christian communities of the Middle East must be defended and protected. The bloodletting of Christians must end, and all who aid their killers must be punished.”
More from Raymond Ibrahim.
