Jackson Reed
U.S. President Joe Biden attended the National Prayer Breakfast on February 2, 2023, in Washington, D.C. The annual event, which was held at the Hilton's International Ballroom, was attended by around 3,500 guests, including international invitees from over 100 countries. Biden delivered a message of unity, urging Americans to see each other not as enemies but as fellow human beings. Biden also quoted Scripture, saying it was important to love thy neighbor as thyself. The National Prayer Breakfast is a long-standing tradition that brings together political combatants and asks them to set aside their differences for one morning.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | February 1, 2024 |
| Location | Hilton's International Ballroom, Washington |
| Attendees | President Joe Biden, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, House Speaker Mike Johnson, former Senator Heidi Heitkamp, Congressman Tracey Mann, Frank Mrvan, Andrea Bocelli, Senate Chaplain Barry Black |
| Theme | Unity, global peace |
| Host | National Prayer Breakfast Foundation |
| Organiser | Fellowship Foundation |
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What You'll Learn
Biden attends the 2024 National Prayer Breakfast
On February 1, 2024, President Joe Biden attended the National Prayer Breakfast, an annual event held in Washington, DC. The National Prayer Breakfast is a long-standing tradition that brings together political, social, and business leaders from the United States and around the world to pray and reflect. This year's event was particularly significant as it marked the first time the breakfast was held under the auspices of the National Prayer Breakfast Foundation, a new group formed to distance the event from a controversial private religious organization.
President Biden was joined by other top US leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The event was chaired by former Senator Heidi Heitkamp, with Representatives Tracey Mann and Frank Mrvan serving as co-chairs. Musical guest Andrea Bocelli performed, and Senate Chaplain Barry Black delivered a thought-provoking message on the historic importance of the gathering.
In his remarks, President Biden promoted a message of unity and global peace. He reflected on the recent attacks on US soldiers in Jordan and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, expressing his understanding of the pain and passion felt by many. Biden also emphasized the unique nature of the United States as a nation founded on an idea of equality and the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect. He reminded the audience that despite their differences, we are all fellow human beings created in the image of God.
The National Prayer Breakfast has a long history, dating back to the 1930s when Abraham Vereide organized prayer groups with business and civic leaders in Seattle. The event moved to Washington, DC, and in 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower attended, marking the beginning of a tradition of presidential participation. Over the years, the breakfast has drawn criticism from some liberal and civil rights groups due to its association with conservative faith-based organizations. Despite this, President Biden's attendance and message of unity and faith as a force for good resonated with many.
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Biden's message of unity
On February 2, 2023, President Joe Biden attended the National Prayer Breakfast, an annual event held in Washington, DC, that brings together thousands of people from various walks of life, including members of the U.S. Congress, Cabinet members, diplomats, religious leaders, and international guests. This was the first time the event was held since its leadership and structure were reorganized, distancing itself from a controversial private religious group.
In his remarks, Biden emphasized a message of unity, acknowledging the challenges facing the nation and the world, including the attacks on U.S. soldiers in Jordan, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, and the trauma and destruction caused by these conflicts. He reflected on the ability of Americans to come together and work through crises, stating:
> We’re the only nation in the world that’s come out of every crisis stronger than we went in when we act together. My prayer for all of you — in my church, we’ve taken the 22nd Psalm and turned it into a — a hymn. And it says, “And he will raise you up on eagle’s wings and bear you on the breath of dawn and make you to shine like the sun. Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand.”
Biden also quoted Scripture, emphasizing the importance of loving one's neighbor as oneself, and recognizing the increasing difficulty of doing so in today's political climate. He highlighted the strength and determination that define America and expressed his hope for the nation's best days to be ahead, rooted in honesty, decency, dignity, and respect.
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Biden's prayer for America
President Joe Biden attended the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, February 2, 2023, in Washington, DC. The annual event, which has been held since 1953, was attended by around 3,500 guests, including international invitees from over 100 countries.
In his address, Biden emphasised the importance of unity and coming together despite differences. He referenced the recent attacks on US soldiers in Jordan, as well as the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, acknowledging the pain and destruction felt by many. Biden also quoted Scripture, highlighting the importance of "loving thy neighbour as thyself".
> My prayer, my hope, is that we continue to believe our best days are ahead of us—that as a nation, we continue to believe in honesty, decency, dignity, and respect. We see each other not as enemies but as fellow human beings, each made in the image of God, each precious in His sight. We leave no one behind. We believe everyone deserves a fair shot. We give hate no safe harbour. Together, we believe in America. That's my prayer: to remember who we are. We're the United States of America, and there is nothing—and I mean this sincerely—nothing beyond our capacity if we act together. We're the only nation in the world that's come out of every crisis stronger than we went in when we act together. My prayer for all of you—in my church, we've taken the 22nd Psalm and turned it into a hymn. And it says, "And he will raise you up on eagle's wings and bear you on the breath of dawn and make you to shine like the sun. Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand."
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Biden's remarks on the war in Ukraine
On February 2, 2023, President Joe Biden attended the National Prayer Breakfast, held in Washington, D.C. The event, which has been a yearly tradition since 1953, is designed to bring people together across partisan lines.
In his remarks, Biden focused on the theme of turning "crisis into conquest," emphasizing the importance of unity and collective strength during turbulent times. He referenced the recent attacks on U.S. soldiers in Jordan and the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, expressing his understanding of the pain and passion felt by many.
Biden's message of unity was a departure from former President Donald Trump's speech in 2020, where he celebrated his acquittal in the first impeachment trial and criticized political opponents. Biden, the nation's second Catholic president, quoted Scripture, emphasizing the importance of loving one's neighbor. He acknowledged the country's challenges but expressed optimism, stating that the United States has always emerged stronger from crises when acting together.
The National Prayer Breakfast has faced some controversy in recent years, with criticism directed at the organizing group, the Fellowship Foundation, for a lack of transparency and inclusivity. Despite this, Biden's attendance and message of unity and strength aligned with his campaign promise to unify Americans and promote faith as a force for good.
Now, onto Biden's remarks on the war in Ukraine.
At the 2023 National Prayer Breakfast, President Biden acknowledged the ongoing war in Ukraine, which had begun nearly a year prior, in February 2022. While he did not provide extensive remarks specifically on the war in Ukraine, he expressed his understanding of the broader global context of conflict and its impact. Biden stated that he saw:
> "...the trauma, the death and destruction in Israel and Gaza and [understood] the pain and passion felt by so many here in America and around the world."
Biden's remarks reflected his engagement in addressing these conflicts, and his recognition of the suffering and destruction caused by the war in Ukraine and other global conflicts. He emphasized the importance of unity and collective action in the face of such challenges, aligning with the broader theme of his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast.
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Biden's criticism of political extremism
President Joe Biden attended the National Prayer Breakfast on February 1, 2024, and February 2, 2023, in Washington, DC. In his remarks, Biden promoted unity and peace, referencing the lives taken by the pandemic, gun violence, police brutality, and climate change. He also spoke about recent attacks on U.S. soldiers in Jordan and the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Now, addressing Biden's criticism of political extremism, it is important to note that Biden has faced significant challenges in confronting far-right and racist extremism in the United States. During his inaugural address, Biden vowed to tackle "political extremism, white supremacy, and domestic terrorism." He has identified violent white supremacy and extremist militias as significant threats to the nation. Biden's efforts to combat these issues have been portrayed by some as an attack on the right, with critics claiming that his criticism of extremists is equivalent to criticizing all Republicans. However, Biden has never specifically mentioned who he is targeting, and his focus has been on unifying the nation.
Biden's administration has promised a new approach to extremism, but some critics argue that they are repeating past mistakes. One challenge Biden faces is that cracking down on far-right groups may inadvertently strengthen them. Any attempt to suppress these groups risks reinforcing their narrative of persecution by the government, which experts warn could boost their numbers. This political challenge was foreshadowed in 2009 when a leaked DHS report warned of a "fertile recruiting environment for right-wing extremists" following the election of the first Black President.
To address domestic extremism, the Biden administration has continued the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) program, initiated under the Obama administration, while renaming it the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention program (TVTP). However, this program has faced criticism for allegedly targeting Muslim-Americans with unwarranted surveillance and religious profiling. As a result, Biden promised Arab-American voters that he would end the program during his campaign.
Overall, Biden's criticism of political extremism stems from his recognition of the threat posed by violent white supremacy and far-right extremist groups. His administration faces the difficult task of effectively addressing this threat without provoking a political backlash or inadvertently strengthening these extremist ideologies.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Biden attended the National Prayer Breakfast on February 1, 2024.
The National Prayer Breakfast is an annual event held in Washington, DC, that brings together political, social, and business elites to pray and assemble. It is attended by members of the U.S. Congress, Cabinet, and diplomatic corps, as well as international invitees from over 100 countries.
Biden delivered a message of unity, promoting global peace and calling for a confrontation of "political extremism." He also quoted Scripture, saying it was important to "love thy neighbor as thyself."
Top US leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, as well as the event's chair, former Senator Heidi Heitkamp, and co-chairs, Representatives Tracey Mann and Frank Mrvan.
Yes, Biden has attended the National Prayer Breakfast before. In 2023, he spoke at the event, urging unity and referencing the lives taken by the pandemic, gun violence, police brutality, and climate change.
