Thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday for a daylong prayer rally titled 'Rededicate 250,' described as a 'rededication of our country as One Nation under God.' The event, set against the backdrop of the Washington Monument, featured Christian worship music from a stage adorned with arched stained-glass windows and grand columns resembling a federal building, with depictions of the nation's founders alongside a white cross.
Christian Focus and Political Ties
Most speakers emphasized Christianity's connections to American history, blending religious and patriotic themes. Critics had flagged the gathering as supportive of Christian nationalism. President Donald Trump appeared in a video, reading a passage from 2 Chronicles, often cited by those who believe the U.S. 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,' Trump read, 'then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.'
Other top Republicans scheduled to participate included Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and House Speaker Mike Johnson. The program featured many of Trump's longtime evangelical supporters, such as Paula White-Cain of the White House Faith Office and evangelist Franklin Graham.
Criticism and Counterpoints
The Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, a Baptist minister leading the progressive Christian organization Sojourners, expressed concern: 'We are deeply concerned that what is really being rededicated is a nation to a very narrow and ideological part of the Christian faith that betrays our nation's fundamental commitment to religious freedom.' Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism highlighted America's religious diversity, including Jews, Muslims, and Indigenous people, and emphasized the nation's tradition of welcoming all faiths and those of no faith.
Attendees' Perspectives
Many attendees wore Trump hats and patriotic colors, joining under a sweltering sun. Denny Smith, 72, from Rhode Island, said, 'It's all about Jesus.' Retha Bond, 58, from southern Illinois, who also heard Trump speak on Jan. 6, 2021, said she did not join the protesters but remains a steadfast supporter. 'This is one of the most important things that could be going on in the world, for us to rededicate our nation back to God,' Bond stated.
Alessandra Seawright, 15, from Santa Fe, New Mexico, attended with her mother and expressed a desire for more such events. 'I think we just need more of this in our country, and we just need to share the word of the Lord,' she said, noting that events like these help her feel less alone in her conservative Christian beliefs.
Prayer Event Spurs Protest
Hegseth, who has infused Christian language into his role at the Pentagon, asked the gathering to pray to 'our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ' and referenced George Washington's faith. Orthodox Jewish Rabbi Meir Soloveichik was the only non-Christian religious leader on the program, telling the crowd, 'Antisemitism is utterly un-American.' The event was organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership backed by the White House, which has faced scrutiny from congressional Democrats over its structure and finances.
Progressive groups, including the Freedom From Religion Foundation and Faithful America, staged counterprogramming. They displayed a large balloon of a Trump-like golden calf, a biblical reference to idolatry. On Thursday evening, the Interfaith Alliance projected protest slogans onto the National Gallery of Art, including 'Democracy not theocracy' and 'The separation of church and state is good for both.'
