Trump Declares National Day of Prayer for America’s 250th Anniversary

As the United States begins its year-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of its founding, President Donald J. Trump has announced a national day of prayer on May 17, 2026, as a key part of the nationwide festivities.

The semiquincentennial commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, with major events planned throughout 2026 under the “Freedom 250” banner. President Trump has consistently emphasized faith’s foundational role in American history, building on his “America Prays” initiative launched in 2025 to encourage weekly prayer for the nation.

The May 17 national prayer gathering will unite Americans across faiths in gratitude and reflection, drawing inspiration from the Continental Congress’s historic calls for prayer during the Revolutionary era. It serves as a spiritual highlight amid other signature events, including the Great American State Fair in June and the grand July 4 Salute to America.

“As we prepare to celebrate two and a half centuries of freedom, I am inviting America’s great religious communities to pray for our nation and for our people. From the beginning, this has always been a country sustained and strengthened by prayer. So important, if we bring religion back stronger, you’re going to see everything get better and better and better. You are going to see it get better and better. So, as we chart our course for the next 250 years, let us rededicate ourselves to one nation under God.” – President Trump, Iowa, July 3, 2025

“America was founded on faith, and prayer has always sustained us,” President Trump stated at the launch of his “America Prays” initiative. “From the beginning, this has always been a country sustained and strengthened by prayer.”

Prayer has been a cornerstone of American history since the nation’s earliest days, guiding its people through triumphs and trials alike.

During the Revolutionary era, the Continental Congress issued at least sixteen proclamations between 1775 and 1784 calling for days of fasting, humiliation, prayer, and thanksgiving, seeking divine guidance amid the fight for independence.

Additionally, leaders like Benjamin Franklin invoked prayer during the Constitutional Convention to break deadlocks, whilst presidents from Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War to modern times have turned to national days of prayer in crises. This enduring tradition, formalized in 1952 with the annual National Day of Prayer, reflects America’s foundational reliance on faith, as echoed in the Declaration of Independence’s appeal to “Divine Providence,” and underscores President Trump’s May 17, 2026, gathering as a continuation of this vital spiritual heritage for national renewal.

This May, believers nationwide are encouraged to participate in the “America Prays” initiative through local gatherings, services, and online sessions.

For more information on the national day of prayer and other Freedom 250 events, visit official America250 resources.

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