Support justice-driven, accurate and transparent news — make a quick donation to Truthout today! 

Over the weekend, thousands of people participated in the “Rededicate 250” national public prayer at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., held as a faith-based “jubilee” to purportedly celebrate the country’s upcoming birthday as “One Nation Under God.”

Despite being widely promoted — and the Interior Department using at least $100 million in taxpayer funds to help hold the event — the jubilee was reportedly sparsely attended, with news agencies’ photographs showing many empty seats near the main stage, including when President Donald Trump appeared to speak to the people gathered.

Trump’s appearance was likely a letdown for those who attended. The president did not appear in person, but rather via a three-minute prerecorded video message, showing him reading a passage from the Bible. The recording was from a nationwide reading of the Bible last month, indicating that Trump didn’t provide an original message for the jubilee.

Trump couldn't even be bothered to send a new message to his own administration's National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving event. Instead, they just recycled the video of him reading 2 Chronicles 7:11–22 from the America Reads the Bible event a few weeks ago.— Right Wing Watch (@rightwingwatch.bsky.social) 2026-05-17T20:52:16.445Z

Trump couldn't even be bothered to send a new message to his own administration's National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving event. Instead, they just recycled the video of him reading 2 Chronicles 7:11–22 from the America Reads the Bible event a few weeks ago.

Instead of attending the event in person, Trump reportedly spent the day........

© Truthout