At the 74th National Prayer Breakfast, President Trump repeatedly linked America’s identity and public life to belief in God, arguing that national rights come “not by government but by God Almighty Himself,” and insisting, “You have to have religion. You have to have faith. You have to have God.” He claimed “religion is coming back… so strong,” citing that “In 2025, more copies of the Holy Bible were sold in the United States” than at any time “in the last 100 years,” and saying young Americans are attending church “at nearly twice the rate” as four years ago.
Trump described his administration’s posture as a defense of believers and religious liberty “like no President… has ever done before,” including moves he said protect faith communities in public life. He highlighted removing restrictions tied to the Johnson Amendment so pastors can “speak the truth,” reinstating service members dismissed over “religious objections,” and announcing that the Department of Education is issuing “new guidance to protect the right to prayer in our public schools.” He also announced a May 17 gathering on the National Mall “to pray, to give thanks,” and to “rededicate America as one nation under God.”
He returned to that announcement with added emphasis, describing the current moment as a rapid spiritual shift: “I’ve never seen anything like it in one year,” he said, adding, “I thought it would take two years, three years, four years to be where we are.” Trump framed the renewal as tied to national strength and personal responsibility, saying, “You just can’t have a great country if you don’t have religion,” and “you have to believe in something,” before adding, “I behave because I’m afraid not to… because I don’t want to get in trouble.”
A central theme was protecting Christians at home and abroad. Trump said, “When Christians come under attack, they know they’re going to be attacked violently and viciously by President Trump,” and referenced strikes against ISIS in Nigeria, saying the terrorists were “killing Christians… by the thousands.” He also featured Miriam Ibrahim, describing her refusal to renounce Christ after a Sudanese Sharia court sentenced her to “100 lashes and death,” and presented her story as a reminder of the “precious gift of religious liberty.”
The program ended with extended prayers over the president, asking God for “wisdom,” “guidance,” “divine protection,” and that he would be led into “greater levels of compassion.” Speakers emphasized that leaders are accountable to God, invoking Scripture, including “Blessed are the peacemakers,” and calling prayer “America’s superpower.” Another speaker declared, “America was founded as a Christian nation,” urging officials to “glorify Him,” and read from the Gospel of Mark, quoting Jesus’ question, “Who do you say that I am?” and Peter’s response: “You are the Christ.”
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