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Trump-backed prayer gathering held on National Mall to 'rededicate America' to God

View original article → May 19, 2026, 9:01 PM

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Accessibility links Skip to main content Keyboard shortcuts for audio player Open Navigation Menu --> Newsletters NPR Shop Close Navigation Menu Home News Expand/collapse submenu for News National World Politics Business Health Science Climate Race Culture Expand/collapse submenu for Culture Books Movies Television Pop Culture Food Art & Design Performing Arts Life Kit Gaming Music Expand/collapse submenu for Music Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions Podcasts & Shows Expand/collapse submenu for Podcasts & Shows Daily Morning Edition Weekend Edition Saturday Weekend Edition Sunday All Things Considered Up First Here & Now NPR Politics Podcast Featured Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Planet Money Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Trump-backed prayer gathering held on National Mall to 'rededicate America' to God The White House helped organize an event on Sunday aimed at "rededicating America" to God. It featured Trump administration members and Christian pastors, with little participation from other faiths. National Trump-backed prayer gathering held on National Mall to 'rededicate America' to God May 18, 20264:45 AM ET Heard on Morning Edition By Jack Jenkins Trump-backed prayer gathering held on National Mall to 'rededicate America' to God Listen · 2:21 2:21 Transcript Toggle more options Download Embed Embed "> <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/nx-s1-5825016/nx-s1-9774311" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player"> Transcript The White House helped organize an event on Sunday aimed at "rededicating America" to God. It featured Trump administration members and Christian pastors, with little participation from other faiths. Sponsor Message A MARTÍNEZ, HOST: The White House helped organize a prayer gathering on the National Mall Sunday. Many speakers blended American history and Christian theology. Jack Jenkins of Religion News Service tells us more. JACK JENKINS: As Christian praise music blasted from towering speakers near the Washington Monument on Sunday, thousands of people filed onto the National Mall, many with their hands already raised in prayer. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST: (Singing) Blessing, honor, strength and... JENKINS: The participants, many wearing red, white and blue clothing adorned with Christian symbols, were there to participate in what organizers called the Rededicate 250 event. It was an all-day affair featuring Trump administration officials, faith leaders and musical acts. The idea was to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. while also, as participants put it, rededicating America as one nation under God. Many speakers argued that the U.S. has been influenced by Christianity throughout its history. Here's House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Southern Baptist. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) MIKE JOHNSON: And we remember that your mighty hand has been upon our nation since the very beginning. JENKINS: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who worships at a church run by a self-described Christian nationalist, appeared by video and referenced a story of George Washington praying at Valley Forge, a story many historians say is a fabrication. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) PETE HEGSETH: And on this day of Rededicate 250, let us follow George Washington's example. Let us pray as he did. JENKINS: President Trump, who has enjoyed robust support from conservative Christians, was also expected to address the crowd via video, but sent along a clip of himself reading from the Bible instead, which was recorded for a separate event. The crowd, many of whom wore MAGA hats, cheered all the same. Kassidy Hanes (ph) of Pennsylvania was one of many who traveled in from out of state. KASSIDY HANES: Today means a lot - just to be here to celebrate our nation, the birth of our nation, to come back into covenant with God our Father. We're just - I'm blessed to be here. JENKINS: Organizers have been criticized for centering not just Christianity, but a particular kind of Christianity. While some Catholics addressed the crowd, leaders from major mainline and historic Black Protestant denominations did not appear. For NPR News, I'm Jack Jenkins in Washington. MARTÍNEZ: That story comes from a collaboration between NPR and Religion News Service. Copyright © 2026 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Accuracy and availability of NPR transcripts may vary. Transcript text may be revised to correct errors or match updates to audio. Audio on npr.org may be edited after its original broadcast or publication. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

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