A large gathering took place on the National Mall on Sunday, where thousands participated in an event known as “Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving.” The rally combined Christian prayer with political sentiment, aiming to reaffirm America as a nation under God.

Attendees gathered to listen to various speakers, including members of President Trump’s cabinet, discussing the nation’s founding and its connections to Christianity. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed the crowd via a recorded message, urging continuous prayer, inspired by the biblical phrase “pray without ceasing.” His message included a recounting of an apocryphal story about President George Washington praying during the winter at Valley Forge in 1777-1778.

“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,” said Hegseth, receiving applause from the attendees. The rally featured speeches and Christian music, aiming to solidify the view that America was intentionally founded as a Christian nation. This narrative is contested by many scholars, as the separation of church and state is a key American democratic principle, underscored by the First Amendment which states that Congress shall not establish any religion or prohibit its free exercise.

Although many hoped for a personal appearance from Mr. Trump, his involvement was limited to a pre-recorded video where he read from the book of II Chronicles in the Old Testament. This video had been previously recorded for a full Bible reading event organized by a Texas activist. The passage read by Trump is favored by numerous Christian supporters who see it as a call for national repentance followed by blessings.