President Donald Trump misquoted the U.S. Declaration of Independence during an Independence Day speech in Washington, D.C., falsely claiming the document states that all people are made in the image of “one almighty god.” The actual text of the Declaration contains only one mention of a deity, referring to “Nature’s God,” and does not include the “image of god” phrasing found in the biblical Book of Genesis.
What does the Declaration of Independence actually say about God?
The Declaration of Independence mentions a deity exactly once. According to the official transcript from the National Archives, the document refers to the “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.” It does not state that humans are created in the image of a god.
Historians identify the phrase “Nature’s God” as a hallmark of 18th-century Deism. In a 2014 interview with NPR, historian Matthew Stewart, author of Nature’s God: The Heretical Origins of the American Republic, explained that this refers to a deity operating through explicable natural laws rather than the revealed religion found in traditional Christianity.
Does the U.S. Constitution mention religion?
Unlike the Declaration, the U.S. Constitution does not refer to any god. The document establishes a secular framework for governance through several key provisions:
- The First Amendment: Prohibits the federal government from establishing an official state religion.
- Article VI, Clause 3: Explicitly forbids “religious tests” as a qualification for holding public office.
- The 14th Amendment: Extends the prohibition of an established religion to state governments.
Who else misquoted the founding documents?
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) also made an unsubstantiated claim regarding the nation’s origins. Schumer posted on social media that the founding fathers described America as “God’s noble experiment.” However, there is no historical record of any founder using that specific phrase.
Nick Fish, president of American Atheists, responded to Schumer’s post in a statement, calling the fabrication of such quotations “disturbing” and linking it to “junk history” often promoted by the White Christian Nationalist movement.
Comparison of Foundational Documents
| Feature | Declaration of Independence | U.S. Constitution |
|---|---|---|
| References to God | One (“Nature’s God”) | None |
| Religious Requirements | N/A (Statement of principles) | Forbidden (No religious tests) |
| Legal Status | Philosophical announcement | Supreme Law of the Land |
Why these inaccuracies matter
The contrast between the actual text of the founding documents and the rhetoric used by political leaders highlights a tension between historical Deism and modern Christian Nationalism. While the founders utilized a broad, philosophical definition of a creator to justify natural rights, recent political rhetoric has shifted toward a more theological interpretation that is not supported by the primary texts of the 1776 Declaration or the 1787 Constitution.