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By Gabe Whisnant
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During his National Day of Prayer speech on Thursday, President Donald Trump used the occasion to promise that tax-cut legislation would work its way through Congress.
The president seemed to joke that Americans "might give up your religion" if the Republican-backed budget bill doesn't pass.
Trump said with a smile, "This is a religious ceremony but that's part of the religion, because if your taxes go up 68 percent you might give up your religion. You might have no choice. You'll be working too hard to make it."
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Why It Matters
Earlier this month, Republicans approved a budget resolution that includes trillions of dollars in cuts to both taxes and government spending. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday that the forthcoming bill would also eliminate taxes on tips, overtime pay and Social Security benefits.
Speaking at a Tuesday rally in Michigan to mark his first 100 days in office, Trump also renewed his commitment to these measures, all of which were key election campaign promises.
"In the coming weeks and months, we will pass the largest tax cuts in American history, and that will include no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, no tax on overtime," Trump told a crowd in Warren, just outside of Detroit, on Tuesday.
With a narrow 220-213 Republican majority in the House and a 53-47 edge in the Senate, it remains uncertain whether House Republicans can meet Speaker Mike Johnson's goal of passing the legislation before the May 22 recess. Although GOP lawmakers narrowly approved a budget resolution that enables them to bypass Democrats and advance President Trump's agenda, Democratic leaders have pledged to use every tool available to slow or block the legislative push.
What to Know
President Trump's renewed pledges come at a time when the American public's faith in Trump's ability to steward the economy is dropping. In a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted last week, just 36 percent of respondents approved of Trump's economic stewardship—the lowest level across both of his presidential terms. A CNN poll released Sunday showed that just 39 percent of Americans currently approve of Trump's handling of the economy.
The Ipsos/Reuters poll also found that 42 percent of Americans said they approved of Trump's overall performance as president so far, while 53 percent disapproved, down from 47 percent approval in the same poll in January.
How Will Tax Cuts Be Paid For?
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the lost revenue from the tax cuts will be replaced by income from Trump's tariff agenda.
"We're going to take in long-term tariff revenue. We put a process in place," Bessent said from the White House on Tuesday. "What President Trump is referring to is the ability for tariff revenue to give income tax relief, and I think there's a very good chance we will see this in the upcoming tax bill."
"The president campaigned on no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, no tax on overtime," he said, explaining that "tariff income could be used for tax relief on all those immediately."
Trump's New Executive Order on National Day of Prayer
President Trump signed an executive order establishing a presidential commission on religious liberty, marking a significant shift in the administration's approach to the separation of church and state. The announcement was made during a National Day of Prayer event in the White House Rose Garden, where Trump emphasized his commitment to "bring religion back to our country."
The newly formed Religious Liberty Commission is tasked with producing a comprehensive report on the foundations of religious liberty in America, identifying threats to religious freedom, and recommending strategies to support peaceful religious pluralism. Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick will chair the commission, with former HUD Secretary Ben Carson serving as vice chair.
The commission's term is set to conclude on July 4, 2026, though the president retains the authority to extend its tenure.
Update: 5/1/25, 1:02 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
Update: 5/1/25, 4:57 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
Update: 5/1/25, 8 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
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