Washington, May 3 (PTI) US President Donald Trump today signed an executive order to create a faith initiative at the White House on the occasion of the National Day of Prayer.

Trump said his administration had spoken out against religious persecution around the world, including the persecution of many Christians.

"What's going on is horrible, and we're taking action. We are taking action. We condemn all crimes against people of faith. And today we are launching another historic action to promote religious freedom," he said.

"The faith initiative will help design new policies that recognise the vital role of faith in our families, our communities and our great country," Trump told a gathering of national religious leaders.

Accompanying him on the stage in the Rose Garden of the White House was Narayanachar Digalakote, Priest at the popular Sri Siva Vishnu Temple in Maryland, along with other religious leaders.

This is for the first time that a Hindu priest was invited to the presidential podium for the National Day of Prayer celebrations at the White House.

Digalakote was the Hindu priest when president Barack Obama celebrated Diwali in the White House. In his remarks Trump mentioned priest Digalakote to welcome him to the White House.

"This office will also help ensure that faith-based organisations have equal access to government funding and the equal right to exercise their deeply-held beliefs," he said.

Trump said he had taken this step to create faith initiative at the White House "because we know that in solving the many, many problems and our great challenges, faith is more powerful than government and nothing is more powerful than God,"

Earlier in his prayer, Digalakote invoked Vedic prayer for world peace and well-being of the mankind.

"May all be prosperous and happy," he said as he translated the prayer into English.

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