A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
The White House helped organize a prayer gathering on the National Mall Sunday. Many speakers blended American history and Christian theology. Jack Jenkins of Religion News Service tells us more.
JACK JENKINS, BYLINE: As Christian praise music blasted from towering speakers near the Washington Monument on Sunday, thousands of people filed onto the National Mall, many with their hands already raised in prayer.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED MUSICAL ARTIST: (Singing) Blessing, honor, strength and...
JENKINS: The participants, many wearing red, white and blue clothing adorned with Christian symbols, were there to participate in what organizers called the Rededicate 250 event. It was an all-day affair featuring Trump administration officials, faith leaders and musical acts. The idea was to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the U.S. while also, as participants put it, rededicating America as one nation under God. Many speakers argued that the U.S. has been influenced by Christianity throughout its history. Here's House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Southern Baptist.
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MIKE JOHNSON: And we remember that your mighty hand has been upon our nation since the very beginning.
JENKINS: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who worships at a church run by a self-described Christian nationalist, appeared by video and referenced a story of George Washington praying at Valley Forge, a story many historians say is a fabrication.
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PETE HEGSETH: And on this day of Rededicate 250, let us follow George Washington's example. Let us pray as he did.
JENKINS: President Trump, who has enjoyed robust support from conservative Christians, was also expected to address the crowd via video, but sent along a clip of himself reading from the Bible instead, which was recorded for a separate event. The crowd, many of whom wore MAGA hats, cheered all the same. Kassidy Hanes (ph) of Pennsylvania was one of many who traveled in from out of state.
KASSIDY HANES: Today means a lot - just to be here to celebrate our nation, the birth of our nation, to come back into covenant with God our Father. We're just - I'm blessed to be here.
JENKINS: Organizers have been criticized for centering not just Christianity, but a particular kind of Christianity. While some Catholics addressed the crowd, leaders from major mainline and historic Black Protestant denominations did not appear.
For NPR News, I'm Jack Jenkins in Washington.
MARTÍNEZ: That story comes from a collaboration between NPR and Religion News Service. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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