Staff ReportsPresident Donald Trump told Glenn Beck he would “absolutely” ban the “Sharia law thing” from the United States and said the government should “take it out” where it appears. The line landed like a lightning bolt in conservative media — applause from the base, hand-wringing from civil-rights groups — and it raises a big, plain question: can the federal government outlaw a body of religious rules without crashing into the Constitution?
Trump’s Statement and the Political Punch
On The Glenn Beck Program, President Donald Trump was asked about “enemies inside our gates” and said he would “absolutely prohibit the Sharia Law thing” and “take it out” where it appears. That’s a clear signal to his supporters that he sees Sharia as a security and cultural threat. Conservatives who want tougher stances on radical ideology cheered. Critics warned the remark stokes fear and could drive harassment of Muslim Americans. Either way, the comment is a political winner in certain circles — loud, simple, and headline-friendly.
Constitutional Roadblocks Aren’t Just Paper Tigers
Here’s the law class you didn’t want but need: U.S. courts have repeatedly struck down laws written to single out religious practices. The Supreme Court’s decisions show a law aimed at one religion or one belief system faces “strict scrutiny” — the toughest test in constitutional law. States tried banning “Sharia” before and saw courts block those moves. So if Washington put a law on the books that explicitly bans a religion’s laws, expect a fast trip to federal court and a high likelihood of that law getting tossed. If you think judges will just wink and let it slide, you haven’t read Lukumi or the Oklahoma rulings.
Smart Conservative Policy — Win the Argument, Win the Law
That doesn’t mean the concern is vain. If the goal is to protect citizens and enforce American law, there are smart, constitutionally safe steps conservatives should push: strengthen enforcement against criminal acts no matter the claimed religious cover, fund local law enforcement and vetting where needed, and make clear that U.S. courts apply U.S. law — period. If there’s misuse of religious arbitration or contracts, target those practices with neutral, generally applicable rules that treat every religion the same. Rhetoric that singles out Muslims will rile the base but also hand ammunition to civil-rights lawyers and liberals — and could create real safety problems for law-abiding communities.
Bottom Line
President Donald Trump’s vow to “ban Sharia” plays well on talk radio and rallies. It packages a tough stance into three short words and solves nothing on paper by itself. Conservatives should welcome the focus on security and the rule of law, but pursue policies that will survive court review and actually protect Americans. Make it neutral, make it general, make it about enforcing our laws — and save the theatrics for the stump speeches, not the statute books.
