"Howdy, Modi!"
 
Yesterday afternoon, President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared together at a rally in Houston, Texas.  As the saying goes, "Everything is bigger in Texas," and this rally was HUGE! 
 
More than 50,000 Indian Americans packed the NRG Stadium to hear Modi and Trump.  If you missed the event, you can watch Modi's remarks here and President Trump's remarks here.
 
The Chinese communists and Russia's Vladimir Putin can't be happy about what they saw -- a strengthening of the strategic alliance between the two largest democratic republics in the world.  The decades ahead will be a dangerous time.  An alliance anchored by the United States and India will help ensure that freedom prevails.
 
After his rally with Modi, Trump flew to Wapakoneta, Ohio, where he met with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.  The two leaders were there to tour a new plant being opened by Pratt Industries, an Australian company. 
 
 
 
Fighting For Religious Freedom
 
I went to New York this weekend at the invitation of the White House.  I and other commissioners on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom were at the U.N. today to hear the president's historic address.  Vice President Mike Pence introduced the president, giving you an indication of just how seriously the administration takes this issue.
 
As Vice President Pence stated, President Trump's address today marked the first time that an American leader convened a U.N. meeting on religious freedom.  U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterrez also addressed the meeting.
 
During his remarks, Trump announced new initiatives on protecting houses of worship and incorporating business leaders in efforts to defend religious liberty.  Below are some excerpts of the president's address.
 
"The United States is founded on the principle that our rights do not come from government, they come from God. . . Our founders understood that no right is more fundamental to a peaceful, prosperous and virtuous society than the right to follow one religious convictions. . .
 
"Today with one clear voice the United States of America calls upon the nations of the world to end religious persecution. . .  As president, protecting religious freedom is one of my highest priorities. . .
 
"It is estimated that 11 Christians are killed every day for following the teachings of Christ.  Who would even think that's possible in this day and age? . . .
 
"We are urging every nation to increase the prosecution and punishment of crimes against religious communities. . . This includes measures to prevent the intentional destruction of religious sites and relics. . .
 
"The United States is forming a coalition of U.S. businesses for the protection of religious freedom. . .  Too often people in positions of power preach diversity while silencing, shunning or censoring the faithful.  True tolerance means respecting the right of all people to express their deeply held religious beliefs. . .
 
"Today I ask all nations to join us in this urgent moral duty.  We ask the governments of the world to honor the eternal right of every person to follow their conscience, live by their faith and give glory to God.  The United States has a vital role in this critical mission."

The media coverage of today's historic event was predictably dismissive.  This CNN headline was par for the course: "Trump Will Hold Session On Religious Persecution Instead Of Attending UN Climate Summit."  It's clear that the climate summit was more important to CNN.

But the sad fact is that religious persecution is increasing all over the world, and no religious group is more persecuted than the world's Christians (here and here).  I would contend that the world's Christians are one of if not the least likely group to persecute other faiths. 
 
Let me just remind you that seven of the world's ten worst violators of religious freedom are Muslim-majority countries.  Two of the remaining three are communist regimes.
 
We must pray for the persecuted church.  And we should thank God that the current leadership of the United States, including the president, the vice president, the secretary of state and the commission on which I serve, is forcefully standing up and speaking out for religious freedom.
 
 
 
The Ukraine Hoax?
 
While the president was crisscrossing the country meeting with world leaders, major political and media figures spent the weekend suggesting that Trump's phone call with Ukrainian officials necessitated the president's impeachment.  With no evidence, progressives are accusing the president of pressuring Ukraine to help him or he would withhold U.S. support. 
 
But the foreign minister of Ukraine said over the weekend there was nothing inappropriate about the call.  We also learned that the alleged "whistleblower" wasn't even on the call.  That is why the Justice Department did not feel it was necessary to report the content of the call to Congress.  The complaint was hearsay.
 
Once again, this looks like a manufactured crisis.  First it was the Russia hoax.  Now it's the Ukraine hoax.