President Donald Trump unveiled a new national prayer initiative Monday at the Museum of the Bible, calling for Americans to unite in prayer ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The America Prays initiative arrives as the administration pushes expanded religious protections in schools and government.
Speaking to faith leaders, Trump linked national strength directly to religious belief.
“When faith gets weaker, our country seems to get weaker. When faith gets stronger… good things happen for our country. It’s amazing the way it seems to work that way. Under the Trump Administration, we’re defending our rights and restoring our identity as a nation under God. We are One Nation Under God — and we always will be,” the President said.
The initiative has already attracted significant support. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner announced that more than 70 faith organizations and churches have signed on to participate.
“Think about the miracles that would take place over the next year … the transformation that you and I could witness in communities all across the land,” Turner said.
Trump also previewed upcoming guidance from the Education Department that protects prayer in public schools.
“I am pleased to announce this morning that the Department of Education will soon issue new guidance protecting the right to prayer in our public schools,” Trump said.
The President highlighted the case of a 12-year-old California student named Shay.
“Last year, in fifth grade, Shay was forced to read a book to a Kindergarten student promoting a message of radical gender ideology that is contrary to his religious beliefs and ours,” Trump said.
Trump also criticized Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia for questioning the religious origins of American rights. The senator had called such notions “extremely troubling” in recent comments.
“It’s this Declaration of Independence that proclaims we’re endowed by our creator with the right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. The Senator from Virginia should be ashamed of himself,” Trump said.
The President emphasized faith as essential to American identity.
“To have a great nation, you have to have religion. I believe that so strongly. There has to be something after we go through all of this — and that something is God,” Trump said.
Trump concluded with a pledge to defend religious freedom: “America has always been a nation that believes in the power of prayer, and we will never apologize for our faith — ever, ever, never, never. We will never surrender our God-given rights.”