Donald Trump honors 45th anniversary of US‑born martyr Stanley Rother

On July 28, 2026 the White House issued a presidential message marking the 45th anniversary of the martyrdom of Blessed Stanley Rother, the first American‑born martyr beatified by the Catholic Church. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump praised Rother’s legacy as a missionary priest who spent more than a decade in Guatemala’s war‑torn highlands, building a school, a hospital and the region’s first Catholic radio station, and translating Scripture for local communities. They recalled his murder on July 28, 1981, when gunmen entered his parish rectory and killed him at age 46. The message highlighted Rother’s 2017 beatification by Pope Francis and noted that the sanctuary in Oklahoma City welcomes thousands of pilgrims each year. Trump used the tribute to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to religious freedom and the values of courage, sacrifice and faith.

The commemorations were reported in both English‑language and Spanish‑language outlets, emphasizing the shared heritage of the United States and the Catholic community worldwide.