American Evangelical Christian leader Samuel Rodriguez led the “Rededicate 250” event with opening remarks and prayer on Sunday.
“Father, we come before you today not merely to remember, but to rededicate, not just to reflect on history, but to realign our future,” Rodriguez said.
“We recognize that there is a battle in America,” Rodriguez said. “Yet the battle is not primarily between the donkey and the elephant. The battle is between the serpent and the lamb. And your word reminds us in Colossians 2:15 that the lamb already defeated the serpent. And because you are the God of righteousness, justice, truth, and love, we proclaim by faith and the most powerful spirit in America.
“It's not the spirit of Jezebel,” he continued. “It's not the spirit of Pharaoh. It's not the spirit of Goliath. It's not the spirit of Nebuchadnezzar. It's not the spirit of Herod. The most powerful spirit in America is still the Holy Spirit of Almighty God. I submit this and pray this in the holy, righteous, triumphant name of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Thousands of people on Sunday streamed onto the National Mall for a daylong prayer rally filled with worship music and speakers ranging from Christian leaders to administration officials.
Long lines stretched in the nation’s capital despite the hot and humid weather as people made their way into the event.
The stage design included arched stained-glass windows, set underneath grand columns resembling a federal building, depicted the nation's founders alongside a white cross.
President Donald Trump was among the speakers expected to address the gathering in a video message later Sunday.
Fox News Digital's Stephen Sorace contributed to this report.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth retold a story of George Washington at Valley Forge during the Rededicate 250 event on Sunday.
Hegseth, appearing in a prerecorded video message, said Washington and his troops faced cold and starvation as the future of American independence appeared grim when they took refuge at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777.
As men began to desert, Washington wrote to Congress asking for help, writing that the army may starve, dissolve or disperse, according to Hegseth. But Congress could offer little help at that time.
Even Washington’s pastor had lost faith, according to Hegseth, writing to the general that he should surrender and ask forgiveness from the British king.
“But George Washington did not lose faith,” Hegseth said. "We know the painting of him at Valley Forge. One hangs in my office. Kneeling in the deep snow, his hat and sword nearby, Washington bows his head amid all the bleak nights, the loss and despair, the lack of proper support, George Washington performed a profound act. He prayed.”
Hegseth called on those in attendance to follow George Washington’s example.
“Let us pray as he did. Let us pray without ceasing. Let us pray for our nation on bended knee. And let us ask our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as Washington did on that momentous day,” Hegseth said.
{{#rendered}}President Donald Trump took to social media on Sunday morning to wish all those attending a prayer gathering at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., “a good time.”
Trump also offered to lend his help to the event, writing that Rachael Campos-Duffy, “FOX & Friends Weekend co-host, should call him if there’s anything he can do.
“I HOPE EVERYBODY AT REDEDICATE 250 IS HAVING A GOOD TIME,” the president’s post read. “IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP, JUST HAVE OUR BEAUTIFUL, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT, RACHAEL C.D., GIVE ME A CALL. I’M BACK FROM CHINA!!!”
Trump returned from his high-stakes summit in China with President Xi Jinping touting trade progress and warmer ties on Friday, though several of the biggest pressure points in the U.S.-China relationship — from trade and Taiwan, to AI and human rights — appeared to end without firm public breakthroughs.
"We had a great stay. It was an amazing period of time. President Xi’s an incredible guy. We’ve made a lot of great trade deals," Trump said Friday aboard Air Force One while returning to the White House.
Fox News Digital’s Ashley J. DiMella contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump will join top administration officials, Republican leaders and prominent Christian pastors on the National Mall this weekend for a massive prayer gathering marking America’s 250th anniversary.
Organizers of the event, called Rededicate 250, expect thousands to attend Sunday’s celebration, which will feature worship music, speeches and prayers centered on renewing the nation as “One Nation Under God.”
Several administration figures including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and House Speaker Mike Johnson are scheduled to address the crowd, along with Dr. Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon and Trump former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
The lineup also features some of Trump’s most prominent faith allies, including evangelist Franklin Graham, White House Faith Office leader Paula White-Cain, Pastor Robert Jeffress and National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference President Samuel Rodriguez.
Catholic leaders Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Bishop Robert Barron are also set to participate, along with Orthodox Jewish Rabbi Meir Soloveichik.
The event will include performances from Grammy-winning Christian artist Chris Tomlin and other worship musicians.
Freedom 250, the nonprofit organizing the event, says the gathering is part of a broader effort leading up to the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration on July 4, 2026.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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