Thousands of people gathered on the National Mall on Sunday for a daylong prayer rally described as a “rededication of our country as One Nation under God.” The event featured worship music and Christian imagery, with arched stained-glass windows and columns on stage depicting the nation’s founders alongside a white cross, reflecting the rally’s Christian focus.
Christian Nationalism and Political Figures
Many of the speakers highlighted the historical ties between Christianity and the United States, a framing that critics say aligns with Christian nationalism.
President Donald Trump appeared in a video message from the Oval Office, reading verses from 2 Chronicles that are often cited by those who believe America was founded as a Christian nation. “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land,” Trump said in the clip.
Other prominent Republicans participating included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.
Most of the speakers were evangelical supporters of Trump, including Paula White-Cain from the White House Faith Office and evangelist Franklin Graham of Samaritan’s Purse. Only one religious leader on the program was not Christian.
Critics Raise Concerns
Progressive religious leaders criticized the event, arguing it promotes a narrow interpretation of Christianity that threatens religious freedom. Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, president of the Christian group Sojourners, said the rally appeared to rededicate the nation to a “very narrow and ideological part of the Christian faith.”
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Reform Judaism Religious Action Center, emphasized the country’s diverse religious heritage, noting that early America included Jews, Muslims, and Indigenous people.
Attendees’ Perspectives
Many attendees, dressed in Trump hats and patriotic colors, said the event was spiritually significant. Denny Smith, 72, from Rhode Island, described it as being “all about Jesus,” while Retha Bond, 58, from southern Illinois, said it was an important opportunity to “rededicate our nation back to God.”
Fifteen-year-old Alessandra Seawright of Santa Fe, New Mexico, said events like this help her feel supported in her conservative Christian beliefs and mentioned she had attended a memorial for the late activist Charlie Kirk, whose activism inspired her.
Event Organization and Political Context
The event was organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership supported by the White House. Several Catholic clerics, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Bishop Robert Barron, also participated, alongside Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, who spoke against antisemitism.
Congressional Democrats questioned the nonprofit’s structure and finances, arguing it could serve as a Trump-controlled alternative to the semiquincentennial commission established by Congress.
Counterprotests and Opposition
Progressive groups staged counterprogramming near the National Mall. The Freedom From Religion Foundation and Faithful America displayed a balloon resembling a golden calf, symbolizing idolatry, while the Interfaith Alliance projected slogans onto the National Gallery of Art reading messages such as “Democracy not theocracy” and “Separation of church and state is good for both.”
