National Mall Prayer Event Sparks Christian Nationalism Allegations

Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, argues the "National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving" serves a narrow ideological agenda. Despite evangelical Christians representing roughly one-quarter of the U.S. population, they comprise three-quarters of the event's speakers. The program, which includes musical performances and testimonies, is funded in part by federal dollars allocated for the nation's 250th anniversary celebration. White House faith adviser Rev. Paula White-Cain described the gathering as a mission of "rededicating the country to God."

Historians and watchdog groups warn that the event contradicts the constitutional framework of the United States. Princeton University professor Kevin Kruse noted that the Constitution intentionally keeps religion at arm's length, explicitly barring religious tests for office and state-sponsored establishments. Meanwhile, Robert Weissman of Public Citizen challenged corporate sponsors—including John Deere, Oracle, and Lockheed Martin—to clarify their support for an agenda that critics label as state-sanctioned evangelicalism. The event follows a series of overtly religious gestures by the Trump administration, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s framing of international conflict as a "Christian crusade" and the promotion of religious content by federal agencies.