President Trump’s prayer vigil turns National Mall into worship event
Thousands of Christians gathered on the National Mall to participate in Rededicate 250, a prayer rally organized at President Trump’s request.
On May 17, thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for a large faith event hosted by President Donald Trump’s administration.
The event, titled “250 Years of Rededication: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving,” was in conjunction with the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The bill was touted as a call to “bring together a broad range of voices united by love of God and country,” but critics argued it primarily favored Christians over other faiths. Religious leaders from various Christian denominations and a rabbi spoke at the gathering.
A variety of politicians, including President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, greeted attendees with prerecorded video messages, while others, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), spoke in person.
Check out photos and videos from the event.
Trump, Johnson and others will speak at a national prayer event in Washington, D.C. See photos
In a prerecorded video message played on a screen at the event, President Trump read a Bible verse. In the reading from 1 Kings 9, God warns King Solomon not to turn away from him as he dedicates the temple in Jerusalem.
Johnson took to the stage to lead a “Prayer of Rededication,” in which he cited the Declaration of Independence and highlighted key moments in American history from the War of Independence to after the September 11 attacks.
“Our rights don’t come from the government; they come from you, our Creator and Heavenly Father,” Johnson said.
In a video message, Rubio spoke about the faith of American revolutionaries and the role of Christian missionaries who aimed to spread the gospel through the country’s westward expansion.
He said the United States was shaped by the idea that faith brings freedom “more than any other country.”
“This is who we are,” Rubio said. “This is what we always look like.”
See more photos of participants and speakers from the Rededicate 250 prayer event
Despite 80-degree heat, thousands of attendees waited hours in long lines spanning several blocks for a chance to experience talks and performances inside the National Mall.
The day-long festival was partially funded by taxpayer dollars. The Interior Department has allocated $100 million to Freedom 250, USA TODAY previously reported. The amount specifically used for the Rededicate 250 event has not been fully disclosed.
Contributors: Phaedra Trethan, Mike Stunson, Jay Stahl, Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY
Melina Khan is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. X Keep up with her at @melinakh and on Instagram @bymelinakhan.
