Rededicate 250: Trump Administration’s Prayer Festival on the National Mall

On Sunday, May 17 2026, Freedom 250 holds “Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving” on National Mall. The program is billed as a moment to rededicate United States as “One Nation Under God.”

New York Times

Freedom 250 marks Semiquincentennial and frames festival as nationalism, citing a painting of George Washington praying at Valley Forge to assert the founders “rededicated” the nation to God.

New York Times

Organizers list 19 faith leaders, 18 Christian. Speakers include House Speaker Mike Johnson (Southern Baptist), Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Catholic), Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, worship leader Chris Tomlin, actor Jonathan Roumie, Sadie Robertson Huff, Franklin Graham, and Paula White-Cain. Bishop Robert Barron, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, and Rabbi Meir Soloveichik (sole non-Christian) appear.

NPR

White House adviser Brittany Baldwin told National Faith Advisory Board organizers hope the festival will become a moment to rededicate country under God, noting in a White House release founders “came together in prayer before declaring independence,” framing event as a continuation of that tradition. President Trump will send a recorded video message instead of attending.

New York Times

Council on American-Islamic Relations called for a broader speaker list, noting Muslims have been part of America since the colonial era and that inclusive representation “projects the strength of our religious liberty.” Americans United warned event “will advance Christian nationalism rather than religious freedom.” Interfaith Alliance will host a virtual briefing and project “Democracy NOT Theocracy” on National Gallery. Political scientist John Green said rally reaches only a small minority, even within Republican Party. A Pew poll of 3,592 adults found majority oppose religious groups in politics, only a small share favor an official Christian nation, and over half say conservative Christians have pushed religious values too far.

NPRRededicate 250: Thousands to Gather on National Mall for Historic Prayer JubileeNew York Times

• “We hope and pray that this will be a historic moment to rededicate our country as one nation under God,” — Brittany Baldwin, senior adviser, White House

New York Times

• “Muslims have been present in significant numbers in the country since the colonial era," the advocacy organization said.” — Council on American-Islamic Relations

NPR

• “To the extent that President Trump has a rally that explicitly espouses Christian nationalism, he's not going to get very far beyond, perhaps, the people at the rally,” — John Green, professor emeritus, political science, University of Akron

NPR

• “But all of these good things I'm doing, including for religion — religion is back now, hotter than ever before.” — Donald J. Trump, former president

People Magazine

A faith-leader virtual briefing is set for Friday; Interfaith Alliance will project “Democracy NOT Theocracy” on Thursday. The final prayer will close at sunset, and observers warn future Freedom 250 events may face legal challenges.

NPR