Rededicate 250: National Prayer Festival Launches on America’s 250th Anniversary

Sunday, May 17, 2026, the White House will host Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving. Senior officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and House Speaker Mike Johnson are scheduled to attend. The event is positioned as part of the nation’s 250th-anniversary celebrations.

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After an AI-generated image of President Donald Trump as Jesus sparked backlash, the administration has promoted the claim that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. Critics note this effort aligns with a broader strategy to replace historical narratives with a “right-wing Christian theocracy” interpretation.

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The speaker lineup includes evangelist Franklin Graham, who defended Trump’s AI image; Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Dallas and a preacher known for sermons urging women’s submission and condemning homosexuality; charismatic preacher Paula White, a longtime Trump ally; and commentator Eric Metaxas. The program also lists a few Catholic speakers and one rabbi, described as token representation.

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Pew Research indicates that 23 % of Americans identify as evangelical Christians, yet the event’s roster suggests a dominant evangelical presence.

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Rededicate 250’s marketing describes the ceremony as a day of “generic prayers calling on God to bless the country.” Participation by Secretary Rubio, Secretary Hegseth, and Speaker Johnson signals official endorsement, though no policy statements were issued in the source material.

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Analysts argue the founders wrote the Constitution to ensure a secular republic, not a Christian nation. They contend the event normalizes far-right religious rhetoric and marginalizes women, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and racial minorities. The inclusion of predominantly evangelical speakers is seen as an attempt to present a “far-right flavor of the faith” under a non-political veneer.

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Organizers claim the program avoids overt political language, yet critics highlight the speakers’ known political positions and past statements. No independent account of the event’s actual content is provided, leaving the extent of political messaging on stage unverified.

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• “I do not believe President Trump would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ.” — Franklin Graham, Evangelical leader

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• “President Trump has a better understanding of what the Bible teaches than the Pope” — Dr. Robert Jeffress, Pastor, First Baptist Dallas

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• “When I walk on White House grounds, God walks on White House grounds,” — Paula White, Evangelical preacher

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• “where I stand is holy.” — Paula White, Evangelical preacher

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• “There is no America, period, without Christian faith.” — Eric Metaxas, Christian commentator

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• “We need to fight to the death, to the last drop of blood, because it’s worth it.” — Eric Metaxas, Christian commentator

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