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President Trump to Attend 74th National Prayer Breakfast Amid Faith-Focused Initiatives
President Donald Trump will make his sixth appearance at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, joining hundreds of lawmakers, business leaders, and foreign dignitaries at the Washington Hilton for the bipartisan gathering centered on faith and prayer for the nation.
“Today, President Trump will unite our country through the power of prayer at the 74th National Prayer Breakfast,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told Fox News Digital, highlighting the administration’s focus on religious liberty as a cornerstone of Trump’s second term.
Trump is scheduled to speak at 8:30 a.m. at the historic event, which has been a presidential tradition since its establishment in 1953 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower attended an early version of the gathering at the invitation of Congress.
This year’s distinguished attendees include several Cabinet members: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins, and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. House Speaker Mike Johnson will also be present, representing congressional leadership.
The international nature of the event is underscored by the attendance of foreign dignitaries, including El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and Democratic Republic of the Congo President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, accompanied by First Lady Denise Nyakero Tshisekedi. Musicians Michael W. Smith and Jelly Roll will add a cultural element to the proceedings.
Trump’s participation comes at a significant moment for his administration’s faith initiatives. The White House Faith Office, established by executive order nearly a year ago, is marking its anniversary with a campaign highlighting “150 reasons why President Trump is the most pro-faith, pro-life, and pro-religious liberty president in American history.”
The office has been tasked with coordinating the executive branch’s outreach to religious organizations, community groups, and houses of worship. According to the Faith Office, Trump “has protected religious liberty and affirmed faith in America. He has fought anti-Christian, anti-Semitic, and other forms of anti-religious bias while ending the weaponization of government against all people of faith.”
Trump’s increasing references to faith and divine protection have become more pronounced since the July 2024 assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania campaign rally that left him with a head injury. “There was blood pouring everywhere, and yet, in a certain way I felt very safe, because I had God on my side,” Trump remarked at the Republican National Convention days after the incident.
During last year’s Prayer Breakfast, Trump pledged action against what he characterized as anti-Christian bias tied to the previous administration. “While I’m in the White House, we will protect Christians in our schools, in our military, in our government, in our workplaces, hospitals and in our public squares, and we will bring our country back together as one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all,” he stated.
The National Prayer Breakfast arrives amid broader faith initiatives from the administration. In January, Trump issued a proclamation establishing “Religious Freedom Day 2026,” which stated: “From the establishment of the Jamestown Colony to the Pilgrims’ arrival at Plymouth Rock, through periods of war and peace and through every challenge and every triumph, religious faith has indelibly shaped our character, informed our laws, and strengthened our national spirit.”
The event continues the long tradition of bringing together leaders from various backgrounds for a morning focused on prayer and reflection, maintaining its status as one of Washington’s most notable bipartisan gatherings. For Trump, it provides an opportunity to further cement his administration’s emphasis on religious liberty and traditional values as central policy priorities in his second term.
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9 Comments
Religious liberty has been a major focus for the Trump administration. It will be interesting to see if the President uses this platform to further his agenda on that front.
With key Cabinet members and Congressional leaders in attendance, this event could set the tone for the administration’s religious policy priorities in the coming year.
The National Prayer Breakfast has been a long-standing tradition for presidents, going back to Eisenhower. It’s an opportunity to bring political leaders together around shared spiritual values.
While the event is bipartisan, I wonder if there will be any tensions or protests given the divisive nature of some of Trump’s faith-based policies.
Interesting that President Trump is making his sixth appearance at the National Prayer Breakfast. Faith and religious liberty seem to be a key part of his policy agenda in his second term.
It’s good to see political leaders from both parties come together for this bipartisan event focused on prayer and faith.
I’m curious to see what kind of message President Trump will deliver at the Prayer Breakfast. Will he strike a unifying tone or double down on his more controversial religious liberty initiatives?
Given the diverse group of attendees, including Cabinet members and Congressional leaders, it will be interesting to see how the President navigates the political dynamics.
The National Prayer Breakfast is a unique opportunity for political leaders to come together in a spirit of unity and faith. I hope President Trump can use this platform to bring the country together, rather than divide it further.