President Donald Trump will formally launch a new faith-centered initiative Monday in Washington, D.C., tying the moment to the run-up to America’s semiquincentennial. The program—called America Prays—is simple in design and ambitious in reach: dedicate time each week to pray for the nation, and, where possible, join with at least ten others to do it together.
The rollout comes at the Museum of the Bible, a fitting backdrop for the effort’s core message. A White House spokesperson framed the initiative as a revival of a bedrock American idea: we’re strongest when we acknowledge God and seek His guidance. As the nation heads into its 250th year, the pitch isn’t policy—it’s posture. Trump and his team want Americans to recover the habit of corporate prayer that shaped the country’s earliest days.
This isn’t a bolt from the blue. In July, at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, Trump kicked off America250, the year-long celebration of the nation’s founding, and previewed this campaign: inviting “America’s great religious communities to pray for our nation and for our people.” Monday’s launch translates that call into a weekly rhythm: carve out time, rally a small circle, and intercede for the country—its leaders, institutions, families, and future.
The early roster of partners signals significant buy-in across Christian networks. Samaritan’s Purse, Pray.com, Hallow, National Religious Broadcasters, and the Faith & Freedom Coalition—along with dozens of churches and ministries—are linking arms to amplify the effort and resource participants. Franklin Graham underscored the heart of the push with a reminder believers across traditions recognize: the most decisive battles are fought on our knees. Southern Baptist pastor Clint Pressley added that prayer is a public confession of dependence—an act that cuts against the grain of our self-sufficient moment.
What does America Prays actually ask? First, consistency—weekly prayer for the nation, not just a burst of enthusiasm that fades. Second, community—forming groups of ten or more whenever possible, because praying together strengthens accountability and expectation. The effort’s architects believe that multiplying thousands of these circles across the country can knit together a quiet, persistent groundswell that outlasts a news cycle.
Thematically, the project places faith right back at the center of the America250 conversation. Trump’s allies say that’s not nostalgia; it’s historical literacy. From days of fasting and prayer during the Revolution to Lincoln’s wartime proclamations, leaders have repeatedly asked the country to seek divine help in turbulent times. Proponents of America Prays argue that the same humility is urgently needed now—amid cultural rancor, international instability, and frayed trust in institutions.
Critics will inevitably roll their eyes, claiming politics has no business near the pulpit. Supporters counter that prayer is not a partisan tool; it’s a citizen’s duty and a believer’s reflex—especially when the stakes are generational. And the stakes here are massive. The semiquincentennial isn’t just a birthday party; it’s a mirror. The next 250 years will be shaped by what Americans believe about God, freedom, and the dignity of every person. For those backing the initiative, prayer is the most practical first step toward renewal.
If the launch achieves what organizers intend, expect to see churches, small groups, and neighborhood gatherings commit to specific times—Sunday evenings after services, Tuesday dawn meetups before work, midweek family prayer nights—creating a cadence that spreads organically. Expect apps and partners to offer prompts, Scripture readings, and regional prayer focuses. And expect testimonies—answers large and small—that keep the fire lit.
Trump’s message at the Museum of the Bible will be straightforward: America has always done best when it remembered Who’s in charge. As the country approaches a milestone few nations ever see, America Prays invites millions to act like that’s true—one week, one circle, one prayer at a time.