Members of the Trump administration and conservative religious leaders are gathering in Washington on Sunday, May 17, for a “national prayer marathon,” as named by the White House. Donald Trump will address the crowd in a video.
The event, called “Rededicate 250,” is described by the White House as a marathon of “national prayer” to celebrate America’s Christian roots. The event will feature members of the Trump administration, conservative religious leaders, Protestant pastors, and evangelicals taking turns throughout the day on the National Mall lawn near the White House and Congress. Spiritual advisor to Donald Trump, evangelical minister Paula White-Cain, emphasized honoring the nation’s Christian values and foundations, calling it a recommitment of the country to God.
Critics challenge the idea that the United States was founded as a Christian nation, highlighting that neither the Declaration of Independence nor the Constitution mention religion, God, or Jesus. Despite this, the Trump administration promotes an identity rooted in white Christianity or European roots, according to experts.
Invited guests at the event include Pastor Robert Jeffress, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Samuel Rodriguez, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and others, with Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio set to address the crowd via video messages. The date, May 17, holds historical significance, marking a day of fasting and prayer declared by Congress in 1776 during the revolutionary era.
The event is seen as a promotion of a political movement using religion to justify certain positions, particularly anti-immigration, rather than a revival of a specific form of Christianity. The gathering sends a message that Christianity belongs to “traditional Americans,” sidelining other religions or atheists, as noted by religious studies professor Julie Ingersoll.
