President Donald Trump has presented a national prayer initiative called “America Prays”, in preparation for the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States, which will be celebrated on July 4, 2026. According to the National Catholic Register, the proposal invites citizens to dedicate one hour a week to prayer for the nation and to organize groups of at least ten people.
Prayer as National Identity
“America has always been a nation that believes in the power of prayer, and we will never apologize for our faith,” Trump stated during the launch of the initiative at the Museum of the Bible in Washington D.C., as part of the second hearing of the Religious Freedom Commission, on September 8.
The president, a Protestant, assured that he will defend the country’s fundamental values: “We will never surrender our God-given rights; we will defend our freedoms, our values, our sovereignty, and we will defend our freedom. And with the help of faith communities across the country… we will make this the golden age of America.”
How the Initiative Will Work
The plan proposes that each group focus on specific themes: prayer for government leaders, cultural renewal, protection of freedom, and strengthening of families. Additionally, participants are encouraged to commit to praying daily for a specific cause or person.
The White House has also promoted participation in online prayer communities such as Hallow and Pray.com, which have joined the campaign. In total, more than 70 religious organizations are already part of the project, including Catholic entities like Catholics for Catholics and CatholicVote, as well as Protestant groups like the Southern Baptist Convention and WallBuilders.
The Historical Dimension of the Project
The official website of “America Prays” offers a 22-page document titled Prayers and Proclamation Throughout American History, with historical prayers and presidential proclamations. Among them are George Washington’s prayer for the army, Benjamin Franklin’s invocation at the Constitutional Convention, and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s prayer on D-Day, when the United States formally entered World War II.
“A Million Pray-ers Every Week”
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Scott Turner, a Baptist pastor, accompanied Trump during the presentation. “What if a million people prayed every week for our country until next July 4?” Turner asked.
The official encouraged believers to gather in small groups of ten people: “Think of the miracles that could happen next year, the transformation we could witness in communities across the country.”
Turner concluded his speech with a prayer in which he asked to “rededicate the United States as a nation under God,” evoking the Pledge of Allegiance. He prayed for “forgiveness, favor, and understanding” and pleaded for the nation’s healing, revitalization, and new spiritual life.
A Spiritual Proposal in a Political Key
The initiative reinforces Trump’s line of relying on the Christian electorate, particularly evangelical and Catholic, who see public prayer as an affirmation of identity and cultural resistance to secularizing trends.
The launch of “America Prays” combines a spiritual gesture with a political background: positioning faith as a constitutive element of the American national project on the eve of its historical anniversary.