Franklin Graham’s daughter, Cissie Graham Lynch, has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as United States Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom.
The post at the U.S. State Department requires Senate confirmation. The last person nominated by Trump, former U.S. Rep. Mark Walker, never got a Senate confirmation vote before his nomination expired.
Isaac Six has served as senior official leading the office since July 2025.
The ambassador leads the Office of International Religious Freedom at the State Department and serves as principal adviser to the president and secretary of state on global religious freedom. This office is different from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Screenshot of Cissie Graham Lynch addressing the virtual Republican National Convention on August 25, 2020. (Photo Courtesy of the Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty Images)
Lynch works as communications director for Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. She also participated in the July “Rededicate 250” event on the National Mall. Her father is among Trump’s most ardent supporters.
Franklin Graham posted on social media: “President Donald J. Trump has nominated my daughter Cissie Graham Lynch to serve as the United States Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. Cissie is uniquely qualified for this — she has traveled the world and been a student of this issue for many years. 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. I couldn’t be more proud of her, and I ask you to pray that God would give her wisdom and strength.”
The role was created by Congress in 1998. Previous ambassadors include:
- Robert A. Seiple (1999–2001) — The first person to hold the role, appointed by President Bill Clinton
- John Hanford (2002–2009) — Served under President George W. Bush and focused on major countries like China and Saudi Arabia
- Suzan Johnson Cook (2011–2013) — The first woman and first African American in the role, appointed by President Barack Obama
- David Saperstein (2015–2017) — The first non-Christian to hold the post, also appointed by President Obama
- Sam Brownback (2018–2021) — Former Kansas governor and U.S. senator, appointed by President Donald Trump
- Rashad Hussain (2022–2025) — The first Muslim to hold the position, appointed by President Joe Biden