Ethan Brooks
President Donald Trump attended the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on February 6, 2020, and February 7, 2019. In 2025, Trump attended two separate prayer breakfasts, one on Capitol Hill and another at a hotel sponsored by a private group. At the 2025 National Prayer Breakfast, Trump urged Americans to bring God back into our lives and said his relationship with religion had changed after surviving a pair of failed assassination attempts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 6th February 2025 |
| Location | Washington |
| Attendees | Donald Trump, Nancy Pelosi, Mike Pence, Karen Pence, Rex Tillerson |
| Topics | Religion, God, Anti-Christian bias, Assassination attempts |
| Speakers | Donald Trump, Most Rev Michael Curry, Gary Haugen, Manuel Espina, Dr Lance Plyler |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's attendance at the 68th annual National Prayer Breakfast in 2020
On Thursday, February 6, 2020, President Donald Trump attended the 68th annual National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton in Washington. Trump smiled as he arrived to give his speech, in which he said:
> It's wonderful to be with the thousands of religious believers for the 68th Annual National Prayer Breakfast. So much of the greatness we have achieved, the mysteries we’ve unlocked, and the wonders we’ve built, the challenges we’ve met, and the incredible heights that we’ve reached has come from the faith of our families and the prayers of our people.
Trump also reflected on his relationship with religion, saying that it had changed after a pair of failed assassination attempts. He advocated for Americans to bring God back into our lives. Trump's remarks at the breakfast were criticised by many faith leaders, who took issue with the politicisation of religious faith.
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Trump's comments on religion and his relationship with God
Donald Trump's religious views have been a subject of discussion among the American public. Trump was raised in his Scottish-born mother's Presbyterian faith and publicly identified with it for most of his adult life, including during his 2016 presidential campaign. However, in 2020, he declared that he no longer identified as Presbyterian and now considered himself a non-denominational Christian.
Trump has made comments about his relationship with God, saying that he believes his life was saved for a reason. At the National Prayer Breakfast in February, he said, "It changed something in me, I feel. I feel even stronger. I believed in God, but I feel, I feel much more strongly about it. Something happened." He also said, "I really believe you can't be happy without religion, without that belief. Let's bring religion back. Let's bring God back into our lives."
Trump has woven Christian religious imagery into his 2024 presidential campaign, characterizing it as a "righteous crusade" against "atheists, globalists, and Marxists." He stated that his aims included restoring the United States "as one nation under God with liberty and justice for all." Trump has also made international religious freedom a part of his agenda, focusing on persecuted Christians. He said, "They’ve been horribly treated… If you were a Christian in Syria, it was impossible, at least very tough, to get into the United States… We are going to help them."
Trump's comments about his religious upbringing and relationship with God have sometimes been described as awkward and odd. For example, in 2015, when asked about times he had sought God's forgiveness, he said, "I think if I do something wrong, I just try and make it right. I don’t bring God into that picture." During the same event, he expressed surprise that people didn't see him as a religious man: "People are so shocked when they find out I am Protestant. I am Presbyterian. And I go to church, and I love God, and I love my church."
Trump's attendance at the National Prayer Breakfast and his comments about religion have not always been well-received. Some faith leaders have been dismayed by his remarks, feeling that he uses the event to attack the faith of his opponents and politicize religion.
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Trump's reflection on surviving a potential assassination attempt
In 2025, former US President Donald Trump attended the National Prayer Breakfast, a bipartisan Washington tradition that brings together lawmakers and government officials. During his speech, Trump reflected on surviving a potential assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the previous year. He shared that this experience had a profound impact on his relationship with religion and his spiritual beliefs.
Trump expressed that this brush with death changed something within him and strengthened his faith. "I believed in God, but I feel, I feel much more strongly about it. Something happened," he said. Trump's reflection on his near-death experience led him to advocate for bringing God and religion back into people's lives. He shared his belief that happiness is deeply intertwined with religious faith. "I really believe you can't be happy without religion, without that belief," he stated.
Trump's remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast revealed a shift in his perspective on religion and spirituality. He acknowledged the protective role of faith in his life and expressed gratitude for the prayers that had sustained him through challenging times. Trump's reflection on surviving a potential assassination attempt underscored the importance he placed on spiritual matters during his presidency.
Trump's attendance at the National Prayer Breakfast and his subsequent reflections sent a strong message about his commitment to faith and spirituality. His experience of coming close to death prompted him to encourage others to embrace religion and brought about a noticeable change in his outlook. Trump's willingness to share his personal transformation with the public offered a glimpse into how his beliefs evolved during his time in office.
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The tradition of the National Prayer Breakfast
The National Prayer Breakfast is a yearly event held in Washington, D.C., usually on the first Thursday in February. The founder of this event was Abraham Vereide, who, in the 1930s, began organising prayer groups with business and civic leaders in Seattle. After moving to Washington, D.C., Vereide established similar groups with members of Congress.
The first National Prayer Breakfast took place in 1953 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower attended a meeting by invitation of Congressmen, Vereide, and Billy Graham. Since then, every American president has participated in the annual event. The National Prayer Breakfast, held in the Hilton's International Ballroom, is attended by around 3,500 guests, including international invitees from over 100 countries.
The event is designed to be a forum for the political, social, and business elite to assemble and pray together. It is a chance for leaders to appear as servants of Christ rather than formidable heads of state. The breakfast is also an opportunity for leaders to network, and invitations are cast as a chance to "seek the Lord's guidance and strength".
In 2023, the National Prayer Breakfast split into two events: one on Capitol Hill, attended by lawmakers and government officials, and a larger private event for thousands at a hotel ballroom. The split occurred when lawmakers sought to distance themselves from the private religious group that had overseen the bigger event, due to questions about its organisation and funding.
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Reactions to Trump's remarks from faith leaders
In 2025, US President Donald Trump attended the National Prayer Breakfast at the Capitol in Washington, DC, where he reflected on his relationship with religion and urged Americans to "bring God back" into their lives. Trump's remarks at the event, particularly his criticism of Democratic leaders and his focus on "anti-Christian bias," drew mixed reactions from faith leaders.
Some faith leaders expressed dismay at the president's decision to make political attacks and criticise opponents during the prayer breakfast. Rev. Tom Lambrecht, general manager of the conservative United Methodist magazine Good News, stated that "a bipartisan prayer breakfast is the last place one would expect to find political attacks on opponents," and emphasised the need for "civility and grace" in such settings. Conservative Jewish rabbi Noah Farkas also criticised Trump's remarks, saying that the president "disrespects others who speak from their sense of faithful conscience."
On the other hand, some of Trump's allies in the conservative Christian community supported his comments. Rev. Robert Jeffress of the Southern Baptist megachurch First Baptist Dallas stated that Trump "was completely right in what he said," and attributed the president's political success to his willingness to be "politically incorrect."
The National Prayer Breakfast has traditionally been a respite from partisan bickering, and Trump's decision to make political statements during the 2025 event was seen by some as a departure from this tradition. His remarks prompted discussions among faith leaders about the politicisation of religious faith and the role of religion in public life.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Trump attended the National Prayer Breakfast in 2019, 2020, and 2025.
Trump said that his relationship with religion had "changed" after a pair of failed assassination attempts. He also urged Americans to bring God back into their lives and bring religion back.
The National Prayer Breakfast is a Washington tradition that brings together a bipartisan group of lawmakers for fellowship. It was first attended by President Eisenhower in 1953, and every president since has spoken at the gathering.
Trump's remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast have been met with mixed reactions. While some praised him as a "champion" of religion, others, including faith leaders, were dismayed by his aggressive and politicized comments.
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