President Trump announced Thursday a massive prayer event at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., scheduled for May 17th, 2026.

“I am pleased to announce that on May 17th, 2026, we’re inviting Americans from all across the country to come together on our National Mall to pray and give thanks,” Trump said.

“We’re going to rededicate America as One Nation Under God,” he added.

Trump did not specify why May 17 was selected, noting that shortly before the Declaration of Independence, the colonial Congress had declared May 17, 1776, a national day of fasting and prayer. May 17 also falls a few days after multiple Christian denominations celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Christ.

Trump revealed that the Department of Education will take steps to protect prayer in public schools. “I’m also pleased to announce that the Department of Education is officially issuing its new guidance to protect the right to prayer in our public schools,” Trump said. “That’s a big deal.”

“Now the Democrats will sue us, but we’ll win.”

The Supreme Court ruled in 1962 that school-sponsored, mandatory prayer in public schools violates the First Amendment.

President Donald Trump addressed lawmakers and faith leaders Thursday at the 74th National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., proclaiming, “Religion is back now, hotter than ever before.”

The event, which began in 1953, is billed as an opportunity to pray for the nation, the president and other national and international leaders. Trump took the opportunity to describe the impact he believes he has had on religion in the United States over the past year.

“This prayer breakfast comes at a special time for this country, as we prepare to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence,” Trump said. “Some major politicians refuse to say the word, ‘God.’ They don’t want to say it. But I say it. That we are endowed with our sacred rights to life, liberty and not by government, but by God Almighty himself.”

During his speech, Trump addressed the recent arrest of former CNN journalist Don Lemon, who was charged by the Department of Justice in January for violating federal laws when a protest he was covering in Minneapolis interrupted a worship service.

“I watched his performance, it was terrible. They tried to use freedom of press and all this to get out of a criminal event, but that was a horrible thing to witness,” Trump said. “And if we allowed that to go, you wouldn’t be able to have a church … Everybody would be afraid to go to church, and that we are not going to allow, are we?”