A wooden cross flat on an American flag, a united family for the blessing, a finger tracing the lines of an open Bible… then an excerpt from a sermon by Jack Graham, pastor of a mega-church in Texas: “Our nation was founded by men and women who believed in the power of God, who believed in divine Providence and prayer.”
At no point does the official video presentation of the national day of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving, scheduled for May 17, 2026, mention only Christianity. But between the choice of iconography and the selection of speakers, the message is clear. Titled Rededicate 250, the event will take place on the National Mall in Washington, a long esplanade leading to the Capitol, seat of legislative power.
Once again, the symbolism is clear. As the country prepares to celebrate with great pomp the 250th anniversary of its declaration of independence on July 4, the Trump administration continues to promote a very particular vision of history, based on the idea that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and must remain so at all costs. A long-standing project of the Christian right aiming to merge Christian and American identities – the “Christian nationalism.”
