A national prayer event backed by President Donald Trump drew thousands of supporters and high-profile speakers to the National Mall between the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument ahead of America’s semiquincentennial.
“Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving” — the first of 16 events hosted by Trump’s Freedom 250 organization leading up to the United States’ 250th anniversary — featured speeches from Christian and political leaders including video messages from Trump, Vice President JD Vance and several cabinet officials, as well as a live speech from Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. The nearly nine hourlong jubilee’s purpose was to rededicate the nation to God with speakers saying America was built on Christian values, and supporters said they came out to celebrate their faith and see elected leaders remind Americans of the value of prayer.
While supporters and speakers emphasized Sunday’s event, which took place on a different side of the Washington Monument than the University’s Commencement Ceremony at the same time, focused on religion alone and not politics, all political speakers were from the Republican Party and Trump-allocated taxpayer dollars funded the event.
Supporters at the event donned shirts reading “Freedom,” held signs reading “Jesus Saves” and joined speakers in prayer, raising their hands in worship and singing along to the series of Christian music performances throughout the rally.
Johnson led the crowd in a lengthy prayer thanking God for protecting the United States through conflicts like the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, the influence of European fascism and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Johnson said he prays that God will grant lawmakers the “moral authority” to rise above “partisan differences.”
“We pray, Lord, you continually bless our president with wisdom and prudence and strength to govern our nation in accordance with your will,” Johnson said.
Johnson said America’s founders relied on God during the Revolutionary War and that God led the colonies to freedom and gave the Founding Fathers the “wisdom and faith” to establish a new nation built on biblical principles.
“America has been a land of hope and liberty, a place of miracles and of light and glory of all nations, because of you,” Johnson said, referring to God.
Hegseth, in his video message, told the crowd the story of George Washington praying before battle at Valley Forge and reiterated to the crowd to stay true to God as Washington had done.
“Let us pray for our nation on bended knee, and let us ask our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as Washington did on that momentous day, so help us God,” Hegseth said in his message.
Trump in his video message read Bible verses, while Vance said the country is seeing an increase in young people who are “returning to the pews” and looking for meaning and direction. He said it gives the nation hope for the future of the country together as Americans, and gives him hope as the vice president.
A 2025 report from Pew Research says there is “no clear evidence” of a religious revival among young people, while a Gallup poll from last month found there has been a 14 percent increase in young men saying religion is “important” to them in the last three years.
“It was obvious to the founders that our faith was the ground upon which America stands in our very foundation as a people, and if this foundation were to crumble, so too will the very values that make us Americans,” Vance said.
In the celebration’s opening remarks, Pastor Samuel Rodriguez, an Evangelical Christian leader and president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference said they are gathering to declare America is not done with God, and God is not done with America. He said there is a “battle” in America, not over political division, but rather the battle for innocence.
“The battle is not primarily between the donkey and the elephant, the battle is between the serpent and the lamb,” Rodriguez said.
Chris Lindsay, a 60-year-old Virginia resident, said he was most excited to see Rubio speak and wanted to “bid happy birthday” to his country. He said he remembers celebrating America’s 200th birthday at 10 years old, but this year he wanted to be a part of a larger national celebration.
“When I was a first grader, we had prayer every day before school, and that’s changed, so maybe it should change back,” he said.
Debbie, who declined to provide her last name, said she traveled here from South Carolina to see the nation get rededicated to God, and commitment to religion is what makes the United States “great” as a nation. She said she is also excited to see a diverse group of people show up to all support the same cause.
“I’m just excited to see the unity people coming together from all walks of life, and participating in what God’s ordered us to do as people who have dominion over the land,” she said.
Lorena Rengifo said she came to the United States 15 years ago and believes America is a great country because the founding fathers dedicated the “whole country” to God. She said she chose to attend Sunday’s event because she believes it is putting the country back on the “right path” toward Christianity.
“I want to be part of the Kingdom of God, and I love to be in community with people who love God,” Rengifo said.
