President Donald Trump has appointed former Congressional leaders and pastors as new ambassadors for international religious freedom.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Thursday evening, Trump announced he was appointing a former North Carolina lawmaker to oversee the State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom.
“Former pastor Mark was unanimously elected to house leadership and did an incredible job as a ranking member of the House Homeland Security Counterterrorism and Intelligence News Subcommittee,” Trump said.
“As chairman of the Republican Research Committee, Mark helped us to secure many victories. In his new role, Mark works incredibly hard to help us to expose human rights abuses, the faith of our advocates and ensure life-saving outcomes.”
Walker, 55, took his X account to describe Trump as “a defender of the faith proven by his bold statement on religious freedom at the United Nations,” and was recognized by the appointment.
“As a former minister, I serve Congressional leaders, and I look to bad actors and communities who commit these atrocities against people of faith,” tweeted Walker, who previously served as vice-chairman of the House Republican Congress.
“Religious expression is the foundation of human rights, and whether it’s on a university campus in New York or sub-Saharan Africa, I am merciless to fight for targeted people who dare to dare their faith.”
Originally from Houston County, Alabama, Walker served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2015 to 2021. He ran a failed campaign for the US Senate in 2022.
As an appointed Southern Baptist pastor, Walker’s idyllic career served a variety of churches in North Carolina and Florida, including Lawndale Baptist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, and in 2008 he was a pastor of arts and worship.
During the 2024 election season, Walker served as director of Faith Outreach, director of the Trump Campaign’s minority community, and gave up his previous efforts to run again for Congress.
In an interview with WXII 12 News, based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina last November, Walker expressed optimism that he will take on a kind of role in the next administration.
“We’re meeting and talking with the transition team about what might be visible there at the White House,” Walker said at the time.
“President Trump knows that when we start working with him, he’s elegant enough to extend such offers even in the spring, so we’re talking about working in a certain capacity role.
The Ambassador of the Status of International Religion Freedom was created by the International Religion Freedom Act of 1998. To raise the position profile during his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump appointed then-Kansas Governor Sam Brownback.
Under the leadership of Brownback and then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Trump Department held ministerial events featuring thousands of religious freedom advocates and persecuted individuals around the world.
In a social media post, Brownback said Walker has a “big background and passion for his work” and knows Trump well.
“He will advance the US agenda for religious freedom anywhere, anywhere,” Brownback writes.
The Danbury Institute described itself as a “conservative Christian Union for Life and Freedom,” praised Walker as “a dedicated Christian and proven leader” and “a great choice for this important role.”
In April 2021, Walker was among many who called out Sen. Rafael Warnock over a tweet claiming that “Easter is more transcendent than a resurrection.” Warnock eventually deleted the tweet.
“He went on to say, ‘We can save ourselves,'” Walker commented. “This is the opposite of the Bible. As a former pastor, I hope people will join me in calling exactly what he is, whatever your background or affiliation is.
Originally published by The Christian Post
