On Thursday (May 1), leaders in churches and government commemorated the National Day of Prayer, continuing a tradition spanning decades.
While the tradition of federally designated prayer days predates the National Day of Prayer as it is currently recognized, Congress introduced a resolution in 1952 requiring the president to designate an annual day of prayer on the date of his choosing. That legislation was amended in 1988 to officially designate the first Thursday of May as the National Day of Prayer.
To commemorate the day, President Donald Trump hosted an event in the rose garden at the White House.
President Donald Trump Celebrates National Day of Prayer at the White House
In an event at the White House, Trump said, “We’re doing up big. This is the first time they’ve done it this way, and you deserve it…We’re bringing back religion in our country, and we’re bringing it back quickly and strongly.”
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“Because for America to be a great nation, we must always be ‘one nation under God,’” Trump added, “a phrase they would like to get rid of—the radical left. But, man, I don’t think we’re gonna let them get rid of that, right?”
Trump went on to discuss “Trump derangement syndrome” and his “big beautiful bill” on tax reform, and he promised to make America “rich, healthy, and religious again.”
Later in his address, Trump characterized immigrants as “pouring in from jails and mental institutions,” a claim he has repeated often but which is not supported by data.
“We’re making our country greater than ever before,” Trump went on to say. “I created a historic White House faith office in the West Wing.”
“And that’s gonna be an office that’s been very well—I see already a lot of people going back and forth and that’s good,” said Trump. “That’s why we want to defend and represent people of all faiths and their religious freedoms.”
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Trump said, “I don’t think that’s ever happened before, right? People of faith have never been allowed in the White House.”
, leaders in churches and government commemorated the National Day of Prayer, continuing a tradition spanning decades. ){kind=link}