Trump Religious Liberty Commissioner Says Israel Views Got Her Fired

Carrie Prejean Boller alleges she was removed from the commission for her statements about Israel and for not sufficiently backing the president.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 10:05am

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Carrie Prejean Boller, a member of President Donald Trump's Religious Liberty Commission, said she was fired from the commission because of her statements about Israel and for not sufficiently backing the president. Prejean Boller accused Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, the commission's chairman, and Pastor Paula White, a commissioner and senior advisor to the White House Faith Office, of telling her to refrain from social media and to run her posts by White for approval. Prejean Boller, who is Catholic, described the alleged actions against her as an 'ironic' violation of her own religious liberty and said she was weighing her legal options.

Why it matters

The controversy surrounding Prejean Boller's removal from the Religious Liberty Commission raises concerns about potential viewpoint discrimination and retaliation against protected speech within a federal advisory body charged with defending religious liberty. It also highlights the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration's positions on Israel and the views of some commission members.

The details

Prejean Boller said she was asked to resign in August 2025 due to concerns from Patrick and White about her criticism of Israel. When she refused to step down, she said she was told by Patrick that her job on the commission was to 'protect the president' and that her public statements about Israel had 'run afoul' of the administration's positions. Prejean Boller was later removed from the commission in February 2026 after a hearing on antisemitism, during which she rejected notions that anti-Zionism equates to antisemitism.

  • In August 2025, Prejean Boller was asked to resign from the commission.
  • In February 2026, Prejean Boller was removed from the commission after a hearing on antisemitism.

The players

Carrie Prejean Boller

A member of President Donald Trump's Religious Liberty Commission who was removed from the commission due to her statements about Israel and her lack of support for the president.

Dan Patrick

The chairman of the Religious Liberty Commission who allegedly told Prejean Boller that her job was to 'protect the president' and that her public statements about Israel had 'run afoul' of the administration's positions.

Paula White

A member of the Religious Liberty Commission and senior advisor to the White House Faith Office who allegedly asked Prejean Boller to run her social media posts by her for approval.

Thomas Massie

A Republican U.S. Representative from Kentucky who sent a letter to the House Judiciary and Oversight committees requesting a review of the circumstances surrounding Prejean Boller's dismissal from the Religious Liberty Commission.

Sameerah Munshi

A former member of the Religious Liberty Commission's advisory board who resigned in part due to Prejean Boller's ouster, citing concerns about the commission's lack of religious and ideological diversity.

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What they’re saying

“Your job on this commission is to protect the president.”

— Dan Patrick, Texas Lt. Gov. and Chairman of the Religious Liberty Commission

“Please just run everything by me for approval”

— Paula White, Member of the Religious Liberty Commission and Senior Advisor to the White House Faith Office

“Those who bless (Israeli Prime Minister) Bibi Netanyahu will be blessed, that's their doctrine ... that they live by.”

— Carrie Prejean Boller

“Now, I don't even recognize you.”

— Carrie Prejean Boller

“The Trump administration has repeatedly paid lip service to free speech and religious freedom while obsessively trying to smear and silence Americans who dare to criticize a foreign government, especially American Muslims and even American Catholics like Carrie Prejean Boller.”

— Council on American-Islamic Relations

What’s next

The House Judiciary and Oversight committees will decide whether to review the circumstances surrounding Prejean Boller's dismissal from the Religious Liberty Commission.

The takeaway

This case highlights concerns about potential viewpoint discrimination and retaliation against protected speech within a federal advisory body charged with defending religious liberty, as well as the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration's positions on Israel and the views of some commission members.