President Trump has invited about 100 conservative leaders to the White House on Thursday, when he’s expected to sign an executive order on religious liberty.
Mr. Trump will be holding an event for the National Day of Prayer, White House deputy press secretary Sarah Sanders confirmed. But she said there was no announcement to be made about a possible executive order.
A report by Politico said Mr. Trump will likely sign what one conservative leader described as a “very strong” order to promote religious freedom. A draft order that circulated in February would have established religious exemptions for businesses and individuals.
Vice President Mike Pence and his team reportedly have been pushing for a revised order after the initial draft was criticized by gay-rights advocates.
The ACLU said in a statement it will sue the administration if Mr. Trump “attempts to provide a license to discriminate against women or LGBT people.”
In addition to the National Day of Prayer, Thursday is also the annual Canterbury Medal Gala hosted by the Becket Fund, a group that advocates for religious freedom. This year’s honoree is conservative legal activist Leonard Leo, whom Mr. Trump has praised for helping him to develop a list of conservative candidates for nomination to the Supreme Court.
“Leonard Leo is a lionhearted defender of law and freedom. His dedication to religious liberty is profoundly important to our country and for religious believers worldwide,” said Bill Mumma, president of Becket.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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