President Trump Delivers Powerful Address at National Day of Prayer

May 2, 2025 – Washington, D.C.

President Donald Trump delivered a stirring address at the White House Rose Garden on Thursday, commemorating the National Day of Prayer and announcing the formation of a presidential commission on religious liberty. The event highlighted the administration’s commitment to revitalizing faith in American public life amid what many observers describe as an increasingly secular political landscape.

Trump Emphasizes America’s Spiritual Heritage

Speaking before an assembly of diverse faith leaders, government officials, and invited guests, President Trump emphasized the historical significance of prayer in American governance dating back to the Continental Congress in 1775.

“Today, as the American people turn to God in prayer, we continue a tradition older than our independence itself,” Trump stated, connecting current religious observances to the nation’s founding principles. “We’re bringing back religion in our country, and we’re bringing it back quickly and strongly.”

The National Day of Prayer, officially designated by Congress in 1952 and observed annually on the first Thursday of May, has long served as a moment for Americans of various faiths to unite in prayer for the nation’s wellbeing and leadership.

Launch of the Presidential Religious Liberty Commission

In what may be the most consequential announcement of the event, President Trump formally introduced the Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty, a new body tasked with protecting and promoting religious freedom throughout the United States.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who was named Chairman of the commission, spoke alongside the President at the Rose Garden ceremony. In a statement shared on his social media accounts, Patrick revealed that the timing of the announcement was deliberately coordinated with the National Day of Prayer.

“I never dreamed that I would have the opportunity to speak in the Rose Garden alongside a President—especially one who is not only a friend but also a fellow believer,” Patrick stated. “No President in modern history, or perhaps in all of history, has championed religious liberty for all Americans like President Trump.”

The commission will be comprised of prominent religious and cultural figures including Dr. Ben Carson as Vice Chair, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Rev. Franklin Graham, Dr. Phil McGraw, and Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, among others. According to the Executive Order establishing the commission, it will focus on parental rights in religious education, conscience protections, and institutional autonomy for faith-based organizations.

Interfaith Participation Highlights Religious Diversity

The event featured prayers and remarks from religious leaders representing various faiths, including Bishop Robert Barron of the Catholic Church and Imam Habash, underscoring the administration’s effort to include diverse religious voices in national discourse.

Speaker Mike Johnson, who has been a vocal advocate for religious freedom in Congress, also participated in the ceremony, further emphasizing the administration’s alignment with legislative efforts to protect religious liberty.

Policy Priorities Outlined

Beyond spiritual matters, President Trump used the occasion to highlight several key policy initiatives, including:

• The “Great Big Beautiful Bill” aimed at delivering tax cuts for middle-class families
• A commitment to protecting Medicaid for Americans in need
• Progress on border security, with Trump claiming, “As of yesterday, we had the lowest safest border in history”

These policy pronouncements, delivered within the context of a prayer event, illustrate the administration’s strategy of interweaving faith-based messaging with concrete governmental objectives.

White House Faith Office Expansion

The National Day of Prayer event also highlighted the expanding role of the White House Faith Office, which Trump has positioned as a central pillar of his administration’s outreach to religious communities across America.

The Faith Office, working in conjunction with the newly announced Religious Liberty Commission, is expected to play a significant role in advising the President on matters related to religious freedom and faith-based initiatives in the coming months.

Historical Context

Religious liberty advocates view the Commission’s establishment as a continuation of Trump’s first-term efforts, which included a 2017 Executive Order on “Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty”.

Dating back to the Continental Congress in 1775, the National Day of Prayer is “a tradition older than our independence itself,” Trump noted. He reminded Americans that prayer has guided the nation’s founders and continues to provide “divine wisdom for our leaders.” The President linked this heritage to his broader goal of restoring faith to the center of public life.

Faith Leaders Take Center Stage

The Rose Garden event featured prayers and reflections from a spectrum of faith voices:

• Bishop Robert Barron offered a prayer for national unity.
• Imam Habash invoked healing and hope for all communities.
• Senator James Lankford, on his Facebook page, praised the launch of the new Religious Liberty Commission: “Happy National Day of Prayer! It was great to be at the Rose Garden today with so many faith leaders & friends.”

Their presence highlighted the administration’s outreach to diverse religious traditions.

By blending historical reverence with bold policy proposals, President Trump’s National Day of Prayer address sought to unite a divided nation under shared spiritual values. From economic reforms in the “Great Big Beautiful Bill” to safeguarding Medicaid and civil liberties, the speech underscored faith as both a moral compass and a catalyst for governmental action. The formation of the Religious Liberty Commission and ongoing collaboration with faith leaders aim to ensure prayer and principle remain at the heart of American governance.

Looking Forward

As the Presidential Religious Liberty Commission begins its work under Lieutenant Governor Patrick’s leadership, it will face the complex task of balancing various religious liberty claims against other constitutional rights and protections.

The Commission is expected to produce a comprehensive report on the foundations of religious liberty in America, strategies to increase awareness of religious pluralism, and recommendations for preserving these freedoms for future generations.

“No one should get between God and those seeking Him,” Trump declared in his address, signaling a robust interpretation of religious liberty protections that will likely guide the Commission’s work in the months ahead.

This article will be updated as additional information about the Religious Liberty Commission becomes available.

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