By Charles Igwe
The start of Donald Trump’s second term as president has been met with enthusiastic support from prominent Catholic intellectuals in the United States, who have expressed hope for structural reforms and a return to policies aligned with traditional values.
Susan Hanssen, an author and associate professor of history at the University of Dallas, emphasized that Trump’s experience and freedom from the need for reelection position him to enact lasting changes. Speaking to Catholic News Agency (CNA), Hanssen pointed to the importance of reforming institutions like the Department of Justice and the FBI to prevent their misuse for political purposes.
Hanssen also highlighted education reform as a priority, advocating for greater control by states and parents. “Parental rights over the education of their children is a fundamental issue of social justice, including the right to choose religious education,” she said.
Political theorist and University of Notre Dame professor Patrick Deneen echoed these sentiments, criticizing the Biden administration’s policies and praising Trump’s approach as grounded in “common sense.” Deneen shared his thoughts on X, formerly Twitter, declaring that the country had been “living under a lawless regime” and expressing optimism for the new administration.
One of Trump’s first executive orders, which mandates the recognition of only two biological sexes—male and female—was particularly celebrated. Ryan Anderson, president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and author of When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment, expressed his approval of Trump’s inaugural statement: “As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.” Anderson thanked Trump on social media, humorously asking if this meant his previously banned book would be available on Amazon again.
Anderson reinforced his support by quoting Martin Luther King Jr., who described just laws as those aligned with eternal and moral law, a concept rooted in the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas.
Catholic columnist and editor Sohrab Ahmari also celebrated Trump’s inaugural address, noting the loud applause at the Capital One Arena when Trump pledged to uphold the distinction between two sexes.
As the Trump administration moves forward, these Catholic leaders and commentators remain hopeful that the president’s policies will promote religious liberty, parental rights, and a moral foundation for public life.
