All day Sunday, clergy members, evangelicals, and politicians took turns praying in Washington, D.C., just a stone’s throw away from the White House and Congress.
Program highlights included religious concerts, sermons, speeches, and merchandise. Thousands of people gathered in Washington on Sunday, May 17 for a marathon of “national prayer” in which several members of the Trump administration participated, but which some perceived as a quasi-official showcase of Christian nationalism. This movement has gained significant visibility since Donald Trump’s return to power, thanks to speeches by Defense Minister Pete Hegseth, a member of an ultraconservative evangelical church, and religious events at the White House.
On the lawns of the National Mall, near the White House and Congress, the audience endured sweltering heat in front of a stage adorned with stained glass windows depicting the founding of the United States. The event was presented as the kickoff of the commemorations for the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States. Stands sold caps and t-shirts labeled “Freedom 250,” quickly translated as “250 years of freedom.” Organizers distributed bags imprinted with “religious freedom 250” containing the Ten Commandments and a book titled “Fall and Rebirth of Jerusalem.”
Christian rock groups performed on stage as Americans with raised arms watched. Laura, dressed in American flag colors, described herself as “a very Christian woman who adores God.” She emphasized, “The vast majority of Americans are Christians. It’s a right we have! Everyone is welcome to celebrate Jesus. This is not political.” A brief prerecorded video of the American president, filmed from the Oval Office reading a Bible passage, was projected and applauded by believers.
However, many Americans see this celebration of the Christian roots of their country as a violation of the Constitution, which establishes freedom of worship. Jeremy from Wisconsin admitted that the event is aimed at conservative Christians: “There’s a political aspect. Political leaders take a stance on a religious issue and act. ‘A nation under God,’ that’s a rather conservative idea. And it’s mostly conservatives who relate to it here.”
Marianne, a mother of seven wearing a black cap with a white cross, dismissed any controversy: “Trump is the spokesperson for those who believe in God. Past administrations never spoke of God. That’s why Trump is attacked: he puts God and his country above all.” The religious diversity of the United States seems erased from this day of prayers.
