Thousands Attend Prayer Rally on National Mall

Thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington DC for a daylong prayer rally Sunday, billed as a 'rededication of our country as One Nation Under God.' The event featured prominent Republican officials including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and House Speaker Mike Johnson. Against the backdrop of the Washington Monument, worship music played from a stage adorned with stained-glass windows depicting the nation's founders alongside a white cross.

The rally drew criticism for its Christian focus and political ties. Only one non-Christian religious leader, Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, was listed among the speakers. Critics argued the event promoted Christian nationalism and blurred the lines between church and state. The Rev. Adam Russell Taylor of Sojourners expressed concern that it 'betrays our nation's fundamental commitment to religious freedom.'

President Donald Trump participated via a video message reading from 2 Chronicles, a passage often cited by those who believe America was founded as a Christian nation. Other speakers included evangelist Franklin Graham and Paula White-Cain of the White House Faith Office. Many attendees wore Trump hats and patriotic colors, with some expressing strong support for the event's mission.

The pastor who delivered the inaugural prayer last year for President Donald Trump said Sunday there should be no separation between church and state. During live coverage of the “Rededicate 250” event at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., Reverend Lorenzo Sewell joined Real America’s Voice to celebrate 250 years of independence when host Ben Bergquam mentioned how far the U.S. has come since slavery and Sewell was asked what he thinks about the popular American standard of separation between church and state.

'Well, Jesus was a politician,' said Sewell. 'Jesus was crucified for a political crime. “You’re no friend of Caesar.” Jesus on his crucifix, it said that he was a king, right? So we’re a country whereby our founding fathers understood we can’t be a country that has a civil law without a moral law.'

The argument echoed that of the Religious Liberty Commission, a federal advisory body formed by Trump, which is arguing against the separation of church and state. In a promotional video for the event, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said: 'Our founders knew two simple truths: Our rights don’t come from government, they come from God. And a nation is only as strong as its faith.'

The conservative lineup also featured Secretary of State Marco Rubio and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). In a pre-recorded message that was used last month during a Bible-reading event, Trump read a passage of Scripture.

Progressive groups staged counterprogramming, including displaying a Trump-like golden calf balloon near the mall and projecting protest slogans onto the National Gallery of Art. The Interfaith Alliance projected messages such as 'Democracy not theocracy' and 'The separation of church and state is good for both.' Organizers expected around 15,000 attendees.

The event was organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership backed by the White House. Congressional Democrats have questioned the nonprofit's structure and finances, seeing it as an end run around a separate commission chartered by Congress to prepare semiquincentennial events.