Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the iconic “Christ on the Water” painting would be restored to its rightful place at the Merchant Marine Academy.
Then-President Joe Biden had banished the inspirational artwork to the basement of the building, the Daily Wire reported.
Biden, who claims to be Catholic, moved the historic Jesus painting in 2023 due to a complaint.
Artist Hunter Wood completed the religiously themed painting in 1944.
In it, the figure of Christ appears on the choppy seas to a boatful of weary sailors.
The subject matter was meaningful to Wood, who served in North Africa during World War II before joining the Coast Guard Combat Artist Unit.
He joined the service days after the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the U.S. into the war.
“Christ on the Water” was installed at the Wiley Hall Elliot See Room at the Merchant Marine Academy in 1947.
However, the Biden administration took it down due to complaints from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation that its presence violated the Constitution.
Duffy is a devout Catholic and the father of nine children he shares with his wife, Rachel Campos-Duffy, according to the National Catholic Register.
Perhaps it was that perspective that influenced his decision to right this wrong for God-fearing Americans.
In a video statement posted on X, Duffy said:
“We are moving Jesus out of the basement.
“To all the great midshipmen at the Merchant Marine Academy, you let me know how important this painting was to all of you.
“Now we all know it was taken out of a place of prominence and put in down in the basement.
“I worked with the Academy, and because this is such a historic painting, I’m announcing that through that work with the Academy, this painting is going to go from the basement back to its place of prominence,” Duffy promised.
“It will be a moment to celebrate,” he added.
WATCH:
We are moving Jesus out of the basement at the Merchant Marine Academy!
To all the midshipmen: this painting is going back where it belongs. pic.twitter.com/bJ9c0FUr4e
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) May 15, 2025
Duffy already received support for the decision when he was met with thunderous applause while announcing it at the Merchant Marine Academy last month.
While the people most impacted have celebrated it, Duffy has received blowback from Mikey Weinstein, founder and president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
He said it would start “World War Eight” if Duffy restores the painting, calling the secretary a “piece of s—.”
As the Blaze reported, Weinstein went on an insane rant on YouTube at the mere prospect of moving the painting.
He also released a written statement that was unhinged and offensive, calling Duffy “bereft of any semblance of morality, ethical standard, or constitutional legality.”
Weinstein accused Duffy of “merely throwing rotting, dripping, fetid, red meat to the Christian Nationalist MAGA fascists in America, who are clearly sprinkled among the USMVA midshipmen, staff, and faculty.”
He challenged Duffy to “FAFO (F*** Around, Find Out)!!!”
This kind of opposition to displaying an iconic work of art is shocking in its vitriol.
Weinstein clearly believes the image of Christ ministering to men in a boat is some kind of dog whistle, which says more about him than it does about the artwork.
Despite popular misconceptions, the Constitution does not prohibit religious expression on public grounds.
Duffy is correct to restore this painting to its rightful place, whether people like Weinstein or Biden like it or not.
READ MORE – Kayleigh McEnany Exposes Biden: ‘Overt Anti-Catholic, Anti-Christian Bias’
