President Donald Trump has nominated Cissie Graham Lynch to serve as the U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, seeking to fill a key diplomatic post that has lacked a Senate-confirmed ambassador since the beginning of his second term. The White House announced Monday that Trump had sent Jane Lynch’s nomination to the U.S. Senate for consideration.
Lynch, better known as Cissie Graham Lynch, is the daughter of Samaritan’s Purse CEO Franklin Graham and granddaughter of the late evangelist Billy Graham. Lynch's name was among a list the White House sent to the Senate on Monday.
In a post on X Tuesday, Lynch acknowledged the nomination, calling the opportunity a “great honor and privilege.” “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 wrote.
Franklin Graham also expressed support for his daughter’s nomination in a separate X post on Tuesday. “Cissie is uniquely qualified for this — she has traveled the world and been a student of this issue for many years,” Graham wrote. “She has a broad worldview and knowledge of the issues facing religious freedom today.” “If confirmed by the Senate, she will bring a passion for defending religious freedom to this office,” he added.
“I couldn’t be more proud of her, and I ask you to pray that God would give her wisdom and strength.” The nomination comes after the Trump administration’s previous nominee for the position, former Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C., wasn't confirmed by the Senate before the end of 2025. The Senate returned Walker’s nomination to Trump on Jan. 3.