Trump announces event to 'rededicate America as one nation under God'

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced plans for a national prayer event at the National Mall in May to "rededicate America as one nation under God" during the yearlong celebration of the country's 250th anniversary.

Trump discussed the event, dubbed the National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving and planned for May 17, during remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 5 as he touted his administration's efforts to return "religion back" to the public arena.

"To support this exciting renewal, this morning I'm pleased to announce that on May 17, 2026, we're inviting Americans from all across the country to come together on our National Mall to pray, to give thanks."

"We're going to rededicate America as one nation under God," he added, drawing long applause from the crowd that prompted a response from the president. "That's what I mean by the spirit ‒ so incredible to see it."

Most of America's founders were affiliated with Christian dominations. Yet the U.S. Constitution has a principle of separation between church and state, as outlined in the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, which prohibits the government from establishing an official religion or favoring one religion over another.

Trump in his remarks boasted of returning religion back to the center of American politics and culture, emphasizing efforts to support prayer in school, policies targeting transgender people and the creation of a White House faith office, among other actions.

"Some major politicians refuse to say the word God. They don’t want to say it. I say it," Trump said, adding, "there are many signs that religion is coming back" under his watch. "It's coming back so strong. You know, your churches are filling up. You didn't have that two years ago," he said.

The National Mall prayer event is part of Trump's Freedom 250 initiative, a subsidiary of the National Park Foundation that is organizing events marking the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is separate and unaffiliated with the bipartisan America250, established by Congress, which is also planning programs an festivities throughout the year.

The prayer event is designed to give "thanks and praise to God for 250 years of His Providence for the United States, in praying that God Bless and Protect America for the next 250 years," according to a description on the Freedom250 website.

"In speech, song, and storytelling, we will bear witness to the extraordinary story of how God has powerfully and wondrously shaped the United States of America—remembering the people, sacrifices, and defining moments in which God has powerfully manifested Himself in our history," it says. "This is more than an event — it is a once in a lifetime national moment."

Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.