Baptist pastor Mark Walker, nominated by President Donald Trump as the U.S. Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, has visited Israel to reaffirm the profound spiritual and historical bond between the United States and Israel. During his visit, Walker expressed his overwhelming emotions after meeting with families of hostages and survivors of Hamas captivity, which he described as a significant moment that reinforced the importance of U.S.-Israel relations.
Walker, a former Republican congressman and Baptist pastor from North Carolina, was nominated by Trump to serve as the nation’s top global envoy for religious liberty, a role that will be confirmed by the Senate. He emphasized the importance of the relationship, citing the U.S.’s commitment to religious freedom as a foundational value, and highlighted the need for continued support for Israel’s resilience in the face of adversities. Walker also addressed the criticisms from some within the evangelical community regarding the alignment with Israel, asserting that such views are not mainstream and that the majority of evangelicals support the strong relationship. He concluded by reiterating Trump’s historic role in global religious liberty and the importance of maintaining this partnership rooted in faith and freedom.