WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump spoke at the annual National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton on Feb. 5, where he touted his efforts to protect Christians around the world and to bring faith back into public life.
The National Prayer Breakfast is an annual event held in Washington, typically on the first Thursday of February. Over the years, the National Prayer Breakfast has grown steadily, becoming a major event. This was Trump’s sixth appearance at the annual event designed to foster unity, faith, and bipartisan dialogue.
Trump began his speech by stating that religion is “hotter than ever before.” There are many signs that religion is coming back, according to him.
“I’ve done more for religion than any other president,” Trump said as he opened his remarks. “That’s not saying much, because not too many presidents have done too much for religion.”
At the bipartisan event, Trump also turned his attention to lawmakers from the Democratic Party.
“I don’t know how a person of faith can vote for a Democrat,“ he said. ”I really don’t. I know we have some here today, and I don’t know why they’re here, because they certainly don’t give us their vote.”
Trump touted his policies on foreign affairs, energy, immigration, and the economy. He also took time to praise his Cabinet members.
“We’re bringing the country together,” Trump said, pointing to the growing investment in the country.
He also highlighted recent U.S. strikes against members of the ISIS terrorist group in Nigeria.
“When Christians come under attack, [those targeting them] know they’re going to be attacked violently and viciously by President Trump,” he said.
Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele was among the attendees at this year’s event. The U.S. president noted his presence, calling him “one of my favorite people” and “a great ally” of the United States.
After he took office in 2025, Trump created a faith office in the White House, which is currently led by the Rev. Paula White. Speaking at the event, White said she has witnessed moments with the president that the public never sees.
The Rev. Paula White (2nd L) and other faith leaders pray behind President Donald Trump during a National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden of the White House on May 1, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP)
“I’ve seen his compassion when no one was looking,“ she said. ”I’ve witnessed his generosity when there was nothing to gain.”
The event’s origins date back to the 1930s, when a Methodist minister, Abraham Vereide, organized prayer groups among Seattle’s business and civic leaders. After relocating to the nation’s capital, Vereide formed similar groups with members of Congress. In 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower became the first president to attend the event.
Besides the White House faith office, Trump also created the Religious Liberty Commission.
During his speech, which lasted for more than an hour, Trump announced that he would invite all Americans to gather at the National Mall in Washington to pray on May 17.
“We’re going to rededicate America as one nation under God,” he said. “I’ve always said you just can’t have a great country if you don’t have religion.”
He also highlighted several policies from last year, including an executive order that cut federal funding for public schools promoting “gender ideology extremism.”
His other actions have included signing an executive order to address anti-Semitism and establishing a task force at the Department of Justice to address anti-Christian bias.
“Religious leaders are respected again,” Trump said. “We brought back the word ‘Christmas.’”
Congolese President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo and Nigerian First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, both Christians, also attended the event.
