Joe Biden said he was a president for all Americans. That simply wasn’t the truth.
And former President Biden was caught targeting this group of Americans through this heinous act.
In a move to honor tradition and faith, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced on Thursday that a historic painting of Jesus Christ, titled “Christ on the Water,” will be restored to its rightful place at the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. The announcement, shared in a video address to the academy’s midshipmen and reported by The Daily Wire, marks a significant reversal of a 2023 decision by the Biden administration to remove the artwork from public view and relocate it to the basement.
The painting, created in 1944 by artist Hunter Wood, depicts Jesus appearing to sailors at sea, a powerful image of hope and divine guidance. Wood, who joined the Coast Guard shortly after the Pearl Harbor attack and served in North Africa, painted the piece as part of a Coast Guard Combat Artist Unit. Installed in 1947 at the academy’s Wiley Hall Elliot See Room, “Christ on the Water” stood as a cherished symbol for nearly eight decades until it was removed following a complaint from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
Duffy, a devout Catholic and head of the Maritime Administration that oversees the academy, expressed his commitment to returning the painting to its original location. “We are moving Jesus out of the basement. To all the great midshipmen at the Merchant Marine Academy, you let me know how important this painting was to all of you,” Duffy stated in the video. “Now, we all know it was taken out of a place of prominence and put in down in the basement.”
The decision to restore the painting has been met with enthusiasm from the academy’s midshipmen, who gave Duffy a rousing round of applause last month when he first called for its return. “Can we bring Jesus up from the basement?” Duffy asked during the event. “Let’s not put Jesus in the basement! Let’s get Him out! Let’s bring Him up!”
Working closely with academy leadership, Duffy emphasized the painting’s historical significance, stating, “I’m announcing that through that work with the academy, this painting is going to go from the basement back to its place of prominence. It will be a moment to celebrate.”
The move has not been without controversy. Mikey Weinstein, head of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, has vowed to start “World War Eight” if the painting is reinstated, calling Duffy a “piece of s***” for supporting the effort. Weinstein argues that displaying the artwork imposes Christianity on students and violates constitutional protections. However, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has praised Duffy’s initiative, writing in a letter last week that there are no constitutional barriers to the painting’s display. Cruz hailed the decision as a vital one in safeguarding America’s religious heritage.
Countering Anti-Christian Bias Under the Trump Administration
The Trump administration has taken a proactive stance in addressing perceived anti-Christian bias, particularly in institutions like the Merchant Marine Academy. The restoration of “Christ on the Water” reflects an overall commitment to protecting religious expression and preserving cultural traditions.
Under Duffy’s leadership, the administration is prioritizing policies that ensure religious symbols and practices are respected in public spaces, countering what many see as efforts to marginalize Christian values. This includes reviewing regulations and decisions that may have unfairly targeted religious displays, fostering an environment where faith can coexist with public service without fear of censorship or removal.
The administration’s efforts extend beyond the academy, with initiatives aimed at strengthening religious liberty protections. By championing the return of the painting, the Trump administration signals its dedication to reversing actions that diminish the role of faith in American life, earning support from religious communities and advocates who view these steps as a necessary correction to years of perceived hostility toward Christianity.
The Biden Administration’s Role in Anti-Christian Bias
In contrast, the Biden administration’s decision to remove “Christ on the Water” from its long-standing location has been cited as an example of complicity in anti-Christian bias. The 2023 relocation of the painting to the basement, prompted by a single complaint from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, was seen by critics as an overreach that prioritized secular concerns over the academy’s traditions and the sentiments of its midshipmen.
The move was part of a pattern of actions that some argue sidelined Christian symbols and values in favor of accommodating vocal minority objections, often at the expense of religious heritage.
Critics point to the Biden administration’s approach to religious issues, including policies that appeared to downplay the importance of faith-based perspectives in public institutions. The decision to remove the painting without more consultation or consideration of its historical and cultural significance fueled accusations of a disconnect from the values held by many Americans, particularly those in military and service academies where faith often plays a central role.
This perceived willingness to defer to secular advocacy groups, like the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, has been a focal point for those who argue that the Biden administration contributed to an environment where Christian expressions were unfairly targeted.
The restoration of “Christ on the Water” under Duffy’s leadership not only corrects a specific grievance but also serves as a symbolic rebuke to policies that diminished Christianity’s presence in public life.
As the painting returns to the Elliot See Room, it stands as a testament to the resilience of faith and the power of collective action to reclaim cherished traditions.
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