WASHINGTON — Thousands of Americans on Sunday converged on the National Mall to mark the country’s 250th birthday with a prayer festival featuring religious music and speeches by leaders from across faiths.
In February, President Trump declared May 17 a national day of prayer and a time “to rededicate America as one nation under God” in a move that energized evangelicals.
“This is a recognition of the deeply embedded history and religious and moral tradition of the country,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told “Fox News Sunday” about Sunday’s massive religious gathering in DC.
“This is an appropriate thing for us to do on the 250th anniversary, and the people who are upset about it oppose that — they want to erase the history of America and pretend as if we’re not a nation that was dedicated originally to God,” he said.
Top political figures such as Johnson, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth were set to deliver video or in-person remarks to the crowd of worshipers. Johnson attended in person.
Religious leaders read scripture and delivered remarks about the church’s role in American history as well as the importance of faith. Most of the leaders who headlined the feted gathering were conservative Protestants.
“I hope everybody at Rededicate 250 is having a good time,” Trump posted on Truth Social in all caps.
“If there is anything I can do to help, just have our beautiful, both inside and out, Rachel D.C. give me a call. I’m back from China!!,” he added, seemingly referencing Fox News’ Rachel Campos-Duffy, who was covering the event for Fox News.
Other key speakers included evangelist Franklin Graham, Dr. Ben Carson, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Bishop Robert Barron, Orthodox Jewish Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, House Faith Office leader Paula White-Cain and National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference President Samuel Rodriguez.
The feted gathering was met with some protest activity from critics who argued it represented a blow to America’s tradition of separation of church and state.
“The agenda for this ‘jubilee’ reads less like a traditional religious event and more like a program for the Church of Trump,” the government watchdog group Public Citizen chided Friday.
Johnson blasted the “naysayers” and those who deride the term Christian nationalism, accusing them of “trying to silence the influence and the voices of Christians.”
“I think that’s wildly inappropriate,” he said.
The massive religious gathering on the National Mall was coordinated in large part by Freedom250, which claimed the event is intended to give “thanks for God’s presence in our national life throughout 250 years of American history and asking for his guidance for the next 250.”
In addition to the Christian-heavy display of religiosity, organizers encouraged Jewish Americans to observe a “national Sabbath” from late Friday through Saturday night.
The May 17 date for the national prayer days traces its origins to America’s early days.
Shortly before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the colonial Congress declared May 17, 1776, a national day of fasting and prayer.