Thousands Gather on National Mall for Rededicate 250 Prayer Event

Thousands of people streamed onto the National Mall on Sunday for a daylong prayer rally billed as a rededication of the country as one nation under God. The gathering took place against the backdrop of the Washington Monument, with worship music playing from a stage that featured arched stained-glass windows and columns resembling a federal building. A light rain fell as the event began.

The event was organized by Freedom 250, described as a public-private partnership backed by the White House. Congressional Democrats have questioned the nonprofit’s structure and finances. President Trump was expected to address the gathering in a video message.

Other scheduled speakers included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana. Johnson attended in person and told Fox News Sunday that the event recognizes the country’s religious and moral tradition.

He said critics who oppose the gathering want to erase America’s history.

Religious leaders read scripture and delivered remarks about the church’s role in American history. Most of the leaders who headlined the gathering were conservative Protestants. 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.

“Our founders knew two simple truths. Our rights don’t come from government; they come from God. Progressive groups planned counterprogramming, including the Freedom From Religion Foundation and Faithful America. On Thursday evening, the Interfaith Alliance projected protest slogans onto an exterior wall of the National Gallery of Art. The government watchdog group Public Citizen said the agenda read less like a traditional religious event and more like a program for the Church of Trump. Johnson blasted the naysayers and those who deride the term Christian nationalism, saying they are trying to silence the influence and voices of Christians.”