Thousands of Americans from every corner of the country streamed onto the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, May 17, 2026, for a sweeping daylong prayer jubilee titled “Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving” — a historic gathering organized by Freedom 250, a public-private partnership working in coordination with the White House and federal branches, to mark the United States’ 250th year of independence.

The event, framed as an early commemoration ahead of the nation’s semiquincentennial on July 4, 2026, called Americans to humbly give thanks for God’s providence in the nation’s history and to solemnly rededicate the country as One Nation Under God — through Scripture, testimony, prayer, worship, and patriotic address.

A Rededication Before the Monument

Against the dramatic backdrop of the Washington Monument, a stage adorned with large arched stained-glass-style windows depicting America’s founders — flanked by a prominent white cross — became the focal point for hours of worship music, prayer, and impassioned addresses. Crowds dressed in red, white, and blue, many donning MAGA gear and shirts proclaiming “One Nation Under God,” raised their hands in worship, bowed their heads, knelt, and chanted “Revival! Revival! Revival!” following the President’s video message.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) led the moment that many attendees called the spiritual centerpiece of the day: a formal Prayer of Rededication spoken aloud before the assembled crowd, invoking the nation’s original dedication and calling for a renewed covenant before God at this pivotal anniversary year.

Administration Officials Take the Stage

The event drew a remarkable array of sitting government officials alongside faith leaders. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth invoked the memory of George Washington’s prayer at Valley Forge, calling the crowd to intercessory prayer for the nation: “Let us pray for our nation on bended knee and let us ask our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, as Washington did… Let us pray without ceasing.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance both participated. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard — one of the few non-Christian figures on the program — offered a message of humility and forgiveness before God, echoing the language of the Lord’s Prayer.

Key Voices at the Jubilee

The Prophetic Voice: Graham’s Call to Repentance

In one of the event’s most striking moments, evangelist Rev. Franklin Graham — appearing via video — declared America to be “morally wrong, completely sick with sin,” calling the nation to genuine repentance before God as the only path to healing and avoiding divine judgment. His message echoed the spirit of the rallying 2 Chronicles passage and set a tone of holy urgency alongside the celebration.

Themes: A Christian Founding, a God-Dependent Future

Across hours of programming, two central convictions rang repeatedly from the stage. First: that the United States was founded on biblical, God-centered principles, with human rights and freedoms understood to flow not from government but from the Creator. Second: that America’s future prosperity, security, and moral healing depend entirely on a national posture of humility, prayer, and renewed dedication to God.

Reactions: Celebration and Controversy

For supporters, the rally was a powerful affirmation of America’s Judeo-Christian heritage and a Spirit-filled turning point. “America is not done with God and God is not done with America,” one attendee told reporters. Many described the experience as one of the most spiritually significant events of their lives.

Critics told a different story. Progressive Christian organizations including Sojourners and the Progressive National Baptist Convention, together with the Freedom From Religion Foundation and various interfaith groups, raised concerns about Christian nationalism, the blurring of church-state separation, and the use of public resources for what they characterized as a predominantly evangelical program. Counter-protesters gathered nearby, holding signs with messages such as “Democracy not Theocracy.” Historians also disputed certain historical claims made during the event, including details about George Washington’s prayer at Valley Forge.

The rally formed part of broader Trump administration efforts to center faith in American civic life, and it tied directly into official America 250 commemoration programming.

Whether viewed as a spiritual awakening or a controversial merging of faith and state power, “Rededicate 250” left no ambiguity about its central message: America’s continued strength, freedom, and flourishing depend — in the conviction of its organizers and thousands of its participants — on returning to what they believe are the nation’s spiritual roots as One Nation Under God.