On Sunday, thousands gathered on the National Mall for a daylong event that combined Christian prayer with political themes. The gathering was described by President Trump as a chance to ‘rededicate America as one nation under God.’
Participants came to hear from spiritual leaders, elected officials, and members of President Trump’s cabinet. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth contributed through a recorded message, urging the audience to ‘pray without ceasing,’ referencing the New Testament.
Let us pray for our nation on bended knee and let us ask our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, as Washington did on that momentous day, so help us God.
Hegseth’s remarks highlighted an account of George Washington praying during the winter at Valley Forge, a narrative embraced by some Christians who assert that America’s founders intended it to be a Christian nation.
Accompanied by speeches and Christian music, the event aimed to promote the idea that America’s founding was based on Christian principles. This view stands in contrast to the historical interpretation that argues for a clear separation of church and state, as outlined by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which states, ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.’
President Trump himself did not attend the event live. Instead, he participated through a prerecorded video where he read from II Chronicles. This video had previously been recorded in the Oval Office for a full Bible reading organized by a Texas activist. The passage chosen is popular among Trump’s Christian supporters, who see it as a call for national repentance followed by divine blessing.