KINGS POINT, New York (LifeSiteNews) — A historic painting depicting Jesus and merchant seamen – honoring mariners lost at sea throughout World War II – has been restored to its place of prominence at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy after the Biden administration had removed it.
“Jesus is out of the basement!” declared U.S. Department of Transport Secretary Sean Duffy on X, over a photo of midshipmen standing in front of the massive work of art.
“I promised you I would restore faith at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy by returning ‘Christ on the Water’ to its place of prominence, where it belongs after being taken down under Biden and my predecessor,” said Duffy.
“God is good for these Mariners – true FAITHFUL American patriots!” he declared.
Jesus is out of the basement!
I promised you I would restore faith at @UsmmaO by returning “Christ on the Water” to its place of prominence, where it belongs after being taken down under Biden and my predecessor.
God is good for these Mariners – true FAITHFUL American… pic.twitter.com/99ddlMnyDr
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) September 30, 2025
In April, Duffy elicited enthusiastic cheers and applause during a speech at the academy when he ordered that the painting again be publicly displayed after being relegated to the basement by the Biden administration.
In a video posted on X by Christian Post journalist Jon Brown at the time, Duffy is seen telling the midshipmen, “As you all go into your careers, God bless you, may God keep you safe,” adding, “Can we bring Jesus up from the basement?”
The crowd immediately burst into sustained exuberant clapping and shouts of approval as Duffy continued, saying, “Can we bring Jesus up from the basement? Let’s not put Jesus in the basement! Let’s get him out! Let’s bring him up!”
Midshipmen at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy erupted in applause when @SecDuffy demanded a painting of Jesus saving merchant mariners be restored.
The Biden admin put a curtain over the painting before putting it in a flood-prone basement.
“Let’s bring Him up!” pic.twitter.com/qQvLKXKE5r
— Jon Brown (@JonBrownDC) April 9, 2025
The massive 10-foot by 19-foot painting titled “Christ on the Water” was completed in 1942 by artist LT Hunter Wood, USMS. It depicts an image of Jesus and merchant seamen adrift in a lifeboat, presumably after being torpedoed in the Indian Ocean during World War II.
The painting had reportedly been undergoing restoration before its return.
Following a complaint from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation in 2023, the Biden administration removed it from the Elliot See Room at the academy and placed in the hallway below the Memorial Chapel.
In January 2023, Sen. Ted Cruz (R–TX) sent a letter to Vice Admiral Joanna Nunan, the superintendent of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, raising concerns about the academy’s decision to at first cover, then move the iconic painting.