U.S. President Donald Trump nominated Jane Lynch—also known as Cissie Graham Lynch—daughter of American evangelist Franklin Graham, to be U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, a position that has been vacant since January 2025.
“President Donald Trump has asked me to serve as the U.S. Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom,” Lynch said. “I would consider it a great honor and privilege to do so.”
“If confirmed by the Senate, please pray that I would serve with excellence and make the most of every opportunity to protect our most precious and fundamental right—and one that far too many people around the world still live without—freedom of religion,” she said.
Lynch, who has held senior positions at Samaritan’s Purse and is affiliated with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, served on the Executive Evangelical Advisory Board of the President’s Faith Advisory Council during the first Trump administration.
“Our world is afflicted by an unprecedented scourge of religious persecution today,” stated David Trimble, president of the Religious Freedom Institute.
On her podcast, Lynch has spoken against antisemitism on college campuses and expressed her support for Israel as a Christian Zionist.
