Rev. Shaji Karackal
Washington DC: The 74th Annual National Prayer Breakfast took place on February 5, 2026, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., President Trump unveiled plant for a Trump revealed plans for a large public event on May 17, 2026, on the National Mall titled “Rededicate 250” (tied to America’s 250th anniversary), inviting Americans nationwide “to come together… to pray, to give thanks, and to rededicate America as one nation under God.”
This longstanding bipartisan tradition, dating back to the 1950s, gathered political leaders, faith figures, international dignitaries, business executives, and guests from over 100 countries for a morning of prayer, reflection, speeches, and fellowship focused on faith and national unity.
Congressional co-chairs included bipartisan figures such as Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) and Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), with prayers offered by members like Rep. Jackson.
Attendees included U.S. lawmakers from both parties, governors (e.g., Gov. Bill Lee of Tennessee), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), international guests such as Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu (a Christian pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, whom President Trump publicly praised and invited to stand for applause), Democratic Republic of the Congo President Félix Tshisekedi, and others.
President Donald Trump delivered the main address (his sixth time speaking at the event), speaking for over an hour in a wide-ranging, energetic style.
Trump declared that “religion is back now, hotter than ever before” and asserted that no modern administration has done more to support faith and confront Christian persecution globally. He touted actions like establishing the White House Faith Office, the Religious Liberty Commission, a Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias, and protections for school prayer announcing new Department of Education guidance on prayer rights in public schools.
He highlighted U.S. efforts against violence toward Christians abroad, including coordinated airstrikes on Christmas Day against ISIS militants in Nigeria accused of slaughtering Christians (timed deliberately “so they understand it”). Trump emphasized protections for individuals like Mariam Ibrahim (whom he helped free from Sudan) and broader designations of countries for religious freedom concerns.
In a humorous segment responding to past media coverage of his rally jokes, Trump mused, “I really think I probably should make it [to heaven]… I’m not a perfect candidate, but I did a hell of a lot of good for perfect people.”
