National Mall Hosts Prayer Rally
Thousands attended a prayer rally on Mall, featuring Christian speakers and Republican officials, drawing church-state separation criticism.
Lauren Collins ·
National Mall Hosts Prayer Rally
Thousands of individuals gathered on Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday for a daylong prayer rally. The event, titled "Rededicate 250," was promoted as a rededication of the United States as "One Nation Under God" and featured primarily evangelical Christian speakers and themes.
The rally, which coincided with celebrations marking 250 years of U.S. independence, included appearances by prominent Republican officials and figures associated with the White House faith office. Speakers included Senator Tim Scott and evangelist Franklin Graham. Former President Donald Trump was scheduled to address the gathering via video message, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also delivered a video message.
Organizers anticipated approximately 15,000 attendees for the event. The rally has drawn criticism regarding the separation of church and state, with some observers expressing concern that it promoted a narrow interpretation of Christian faith. The program featured only one non-Christian speaker, Orthodox rabbi Meir Soloveichik, among a slate of predominantly evangelical Christian participants.