"Rededicate 250" Held on National Mall Yesterday

Crowds of people gathered yesterday on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving. The organizers, Freedom 250, are described by NPR as "a public-private group working with the White House."  A video of the full 8 hours and 45 minutes of the program is available here on YouTube. Speakers included public officials, clergy and authors. (List of speakers.) According to CNN:

Freedom 250, a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Park Foundation, which functions as the National Park Service’s fundraising arm, organized the event....

While organizers invited Americans of every background to attend the event, the long list of faith leaders who attended consisted largely of evangelical Christians — except for one Orthodox rabbi and two conservative Catholic bishops. Brittany Baldwin, White House senior policy adviser and executive of the White House Task Force America 250, described a focus on “our heritage as a Judeo-Christian” nation....

 Experts CNN spoke with were split on whether the event was constitutional....

NPR pointed out:

President Trump, who was golfing on Sunday afternoon, did not attend the event. Trump delivered a video message reading the Biblical scripture 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, which details God's response to King Solomon after he completed the temple in Jerusalem.

Trump administration officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also spoke in video messages....

Presidential Message on the Feast of the Ascension

Last Thursday, the White House posted a Presidential Message on the Feast of the Ascension (full text). The Message said in part:

Forty days ago, the world celebrated the miracle of Easter, when Jesus rose from the dead following His death on the Cross.  On the Feast of the Ascension, we celebrate yet another great miracle:  His bodily departure from Earth and return to His Father in Heaven.

On this special day, we are reminded that, for millions of Americans, the love of Christ gives our lives—and our country—the deepest meaning, purpose, and identity.  As we celebrate 250 years of American freedom and independence, we remember that America remains a great Nation because the United States has always been a Nation blessed by God.

USCIRF Urges President to Fill Position of Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom yesterday issued a statement (full text) urging President Trump to select a nominee to fill the position of Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, and urging the Senate to swiftly confirm the nomination. The USCIRF Statement says in part:

President Trump has engaged in some important IRF policy decisions, including the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern and the expansion of visa restrictions against IRF violators and their families.... However, the present lack of ambassadorial leadership on IRF matters prevents the U.S. government from fulfilling its potential in leading global efforts to advance this vital issue—a problem that can be solved through a swift nomination and confirmation process.

As previously reported, in April 2025, President Trump nominated Mark Walker, a former Baptist minister and former congressman, to be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. However, the Senate failed to hold a hearing on his nomination which was being blocked by North Carolina Senator Tedd Budd who defeated Walker in the 2022 Republican primary for U.S. Senate. So last January, Walker withdrew his name from consideration for the ambassadorship and instead accepted an appointment by President Trump as Principal Advisor on Global Religious Freedom to the State Department. His term in that position expired last month.

Today Is National Day of Prayer

36 US Code §119 provides that "The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer...." Consistent with that, the non-governmental National Day of Prayer Task Force is promoting today as the National Day of Prayer. However, yesterday (Wednesday) the White House posted a "Presidential Message on National Day of Prayer" (full text) suggesting that yesterday was the National Day of Prayer. The Message, dated May 6, says in part:

This National Day of Prayer, we proudly recommit to our magnificent birthright of faith.  I encourage all Americans to come together today in prayer, reflecting on the many blessings God has given our Nation and asking for His continued protection, with ceremonies, events, and programs in their houses of worship and places of work, schools, and homes.

The Message also says in part:

Today, faith in God is resurging on American shores like never before.  Throughout this historic year, we rejoice in the triumph of the American spirit and in the love and grace of Almighty God.  And just as our Founders came together in prayer before declaring independence, thousands of Americans will gather on Sunday, May 17, on the National Mall to rededicate the United States as One Nation Under God.

President Declares May As Jewish American Heritage Month

On Monday, President Trump issued a Proclamation (full text) declaring May as Jewish American Heritage Month. The Proclamation reads in part:

Throughout this historic year, we rejoice in the triumph of the American spirit and rededicate ourselves to the cause of liberty and justice for all.  In special honor of 250 glorious years of American independence and on the weekend of Rededicate 250 — a national jubilee of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving — Jewish Americans are encouraged to observe a national Sabbath.  From sundown on May 15 to nightfall on May 16, friends, families, and communities of all backgrounds may come together in gratitude for our great Nation.  This day will recognize the sacred Jewish tradition of setting aside time for rest, reflection, and gratitude to the Almighty.

This month, we celebrate the contributions that Jewish Americans have made to our way of life, we honor their role in shaping the story of our Nation, and we remember that religious devotion, learning, and service to others are enduring pillars of a thriving culture....

President's Task Force on Anti-Christian Bias Issues Report

Yesterday, the President's Task Force to Eradicate anti-Christian Bias issued a report (full text) titled Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias within the Federal Government. The 197-page Report (with an additional 368 pages of Exhibits) focuses on policies of the Biden Administration, and concludes in part:

The Task Force found that, in its zealous pursuit of its preferred policies and constituents, the Biden Administration engaged in anti-Christian bias, seeking to limit Christians’ ability to act in concert with their sincerely held beliefs in their homes, in the workplace, and in the public square. At times, it went still further, leading Christians to reportedly choose between their beliefs and compliance with federal law. And, most troublingly, the Biden Administration is alleged to have prosecuted and jailed peaceful Christian pro-life demonstrators, terminated or harassed Christian workers who did not comply with the vaccine mandates, targeted Christian organizations with IRS inquiries, and subjected Christian schools to excessive fines. Taken together, the findings presented by the Task Force raise serious concerns about whether certain Biden-era policies and practices were administered in a manner consistent with the Constitution and applicable federal law. These concerns implicate core American commitments—religious liberty, equal treatment, and the rule of law—that protect all Americans of faith and conscience....

Our Nation’s forefathers recognized that our most essential rights are given to us by God and are not bestowed by civil government. By design, the Constitution and federal law limit the government’s reach into speech and religion to protect those inalienable rights from the vicissitudes of politics and changing times. Americans have been promised freedom of religion, not just in the privacy of their homes and four walls of their churches, but to daily walk in accordance with their religious teachings and conscience in the public square.

The National Catholic Register summarizes the Report.  The Freedom from Religion Foundation issued a press release strongly criticizing the Report.

White House Posts Presidential Message Marking 419th Anniversary of the Cape Henry Cross

Yesterday, the White House posted a "Presidential Message on the Anniversary of the First Landing and the Raising of the Cape Henry Cross" (full text). In it, the President says in part:

On this day 419 years ago, America’s birthright of faith was anchored in the sand when a courageous group of adventurers, explorers, and settlers planted a glorious wooden cross at the crest of Cape Henry, Virginia—a consecration of the new frontier that laid the foundation for the greatest Republic in the history of the world.  Today, our Nation pays tribute to the heroes who landed at Cape Henry in the spring of 1607, and we pledge to pioneer a future that once again upholds our traditions, cherishes our values, and places our trust in Almighty God.

On April 26, 1607, 104 men completed a daring voyage across the Atlantic in search of opportunity in the Americas.  Commissioned by King James I and the Virginia Company of London, they were guided by a noble mission:  to extend Christendom’s dominion in the New World, secure their prosperity, and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ....

President Issues Easter Message

On Friday, the White House posted a Presidential Message on Easter (full text). The Message reads in part:

This Easter Sunday, the First Lady and I join with Christians all across our Nation and around the world in rejoicing in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, whose triumph over sin and victory over death secured the promise of redemption and the hope of eternal life for all who believe in Him as Lord and Savior.

Sunday, we proclaim with joy that Christ has risen, a new creation has been ushered in, and evil and death have been conquered forever through the unmatched power of God’s sacrificial love....

As we rejoice in this Easter season, we are reminded that the life of Jesus Christ and the truths of the Gospel have inspired our way of life and our national identity for 250 years.  From the Christian patriots who won and secured our liberty on the battlefield and every generation since, the love of Christ has unfailingly guided our Nation through calm waters and dark storms....

President Issues Eid al-Fitr Message

 The White House yesterday posted a Presidential Message on Eid al-Fitr which reads:

The First Lady and I send our best wishes to every American celebrating Eid al-Fitr.

Eid al-Fitr, also known as the Festival of Breaking the Fast, unites Muslim families, friends, and communities in honor of their spiritual devotion at the conclusion of Ramadan.  It also serves as a reminder of the foundational American principle of religious liberty, which my Administration is fighting for every day.

We offer our warmest greetings for a blessed Eid al-Fitr to all who celebrate.

President Issues St. Patrick's Day Message

Yesterday, the White House posted President Trump's Presidential Message on Saint Patrick’s Day and Irish American Heritage Month. The Message reads in part:

Today, and throughout the month of March, I join the Irish American community and all American citizens in celebrating the bond between our two nations and commemorating the towering life and legacy of Saint Patrick—the patron Saint of Ireland and an immortal icon of faith, freedom, and fortitude.

Born in the fourth century, Saint Patrick spent his life traversing the rugged frontiers of medieval Ireland to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Celtic people.  In the face of relentless persecution, imprisonment, and even assassination attempts, he ventured into unknown lands and hostile territory to proclaim the truth, fearlessly obeying Christ’s command to “make disciples of all nations.”  Tradition holds that, during 40 days of prayer and fasting on a mountaintop, he banished all serpents and demons off of the Emerald Isle and taught the mystery of the Holy Trinity to pagans using the three-leaved shamrock, setting untold hearts on fire for Christ.

To this day, Saint Patrick lives on in our country and around the world as a heroic Christian witness, a testament to the power of prayer, and a timeless exemplar of the strength of the Irish people.  In the 19th and 20th centuries, millions of Irish natives brought his faith and missionary spirit across the Atlantic and onto American shores....

As we celebrate 250 glorious years of American independence, we also pay tribute to the distinct role of Irish Americans in our national journey....

President Trump's Ash Wednesday Message

Yesterday, the White House posted a Presidential Message on Ash Wednesday (full text). It reads in part:

Today, the First Lady and I join the millions of Christians in the United States and around the world in observing Ash Wednesday—a solemn day of prayer and repentance and the beginning of the Lenten season.

Every Ash Wednesday, Christians receive ashes in the shape of a cross on their foreheads as a visible reminder of our belonging to Jesus Christ and our enduring need for penance....

... [W] are reminded that the practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving have been foundational to our strength from the earliest days of our national story.  From the Colonists who turned to prayer and fasting in the heart of the Revolutionary War to the unmatched compassion and generosity of America’s churches, hospitals, and charitable institutions, these righteous acts of faith over the centuries have always stood at the center of our identity, our heritage, and our way of life....

Above all, as we prepare for the triumphant resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday—the greatest miracle in the history of mankind—we pause to remember those sacred words:  “This is the time of fulfillment.  The Kingdom of God is at hand.  Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

Trump Announces May Event to "Rededicate America as One Nation Under God"

President Trump yesterday delivered lengthy remarks (full transcript) at the National Prayer Breakfast held at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. His remarks included the following announcement:

In the last 12 months, young Americans attended church at nearly twice the rate as they did four years ago.... Some churches are seeing a 30 percent, 50 percent, or even 70 percent increase in the number of converts, and also the number of people going to church every week.

To support this exciting renewal this morning, I’m pleased to announce that on May 17th — 26th — that we’re inviting Americans from all across the country to come together on our National Mall to pray, to give thanks, and to — We are going to do something that everyone said, like, that’s tough. We’re going to rededicate America as one nation under God.

President Trump Issues Message on International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the 81st anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. The White House today posted a Presidential Message on International Holocaust Remembrance Day (full text) which reads in part:

Today, we pay respect to the blessed memories of the millions of Jewish people, who were murdered at the hands of the Nazi Regime and its collaborators during the Holocaust— as well as the Slavs and the Roma, people with disabilities, religious leaders, persons targeted based on their sexual orientation, and political prisoners who were also targeted for systematic slaughter.  We renew our resolve that freedom, justice, and the dignity of the human person will always conquer the forces of evil, tyranny, and oppression....

... After I took office as the 47th President of the United States, I proudly made it this administration’s priority directing the Federal Government to use all appropriate legal tools to combat the scourge of anti-Semitism.  My Administration will remain a steadfast and unequivocal champion for Jewish Americans and the God-given right of every American to practice their faith freely, openly, and without fear....

Pope Leo Is Invited to Join Trump's Board of Peace

Speaking to the press on Wednesday, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin confirmed that Pope Leo XIV has been invited by President Donald Trump to join the Board of Peace for Gaza.  According to Vatican News:

Turning to the topic of the Board of Peace for Gaza, the Cardinal reflected on how President Trump is inviting a number of countries to participate.

“I believe I read in the newspaper this morning that Italy, too, is considering whether or not to join,” he continued, “We also received the invitation to the Board of Peace for Gaza; the Pope has received it, and we are considering what to do.”

He argued, “It is an issue that requires some time to be properly assessed and to provide a response.”

Speaking about the Board of Peace for Gaza, the Cardinal said that the Holy See would not take part financially, noting, “We are not even in a position to do so.”

However, he pointed out that the Vatican is in a different situation from other countries, and therefore the analysis will be different. But, the Cardinal said, “I believe the request will not be for economic participation.”

Trump Appoints State Department Global Religious Freedom Advisor

 As previously reported, last April, President Trump nominated Mark Walker, a former Baptist minister and former congressman, to be Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom. However, the Senate failed to hold a hearing on his nomination. Apparently, his confirmation was blocked by North Carolina Senator Tedd Budd who defeated Walker in the 2022 Republican primary for U.S. Senate. So now, according to a January 8 statement (full text) by Walker, he has withdrawn his name from consideration for the ambassadorship and instead has accepted an appointment by President Trump as Principal Advisor on Global Religious Freedom to the State Department.  This appointment does not require Senate confirmation. In his statement, Walker said in part:

I look forward to working closely with Secretary Rubio, President Trump and the entire Administration to advance America's leadership in confronting religious persecution, exposing human rights violations, and advocating for people of faith around the globe.

Religious freedom remains under assault in far too many corners of the world, and I am committed to supporting the Trump Administration's bold efforts to defend this fundamental right. I thank President Trump, Secretary Rubio and the entire team for their trust and confidence.

JNS reports on these developments.

President Issues Christmas Message

The White House today posted a Presidential Message on Christmas (full text). It reads in part:

... The birth of Jesus revealed the perfect expression of God’s boundless love and His desire to be close to His people.  More than two centuries later, we continue to rejoice in the gift of God’s only begotten Son as the graces of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection continue to pour out upon all who believe.

This Christmas, we also give thanks for the many blessings that God has bestowed upon our great Nation.... As President, I will never waver in defending the fundamental values that make America the greatest country in the history of the world—and we will always remain one Nation under God.

Today, especially, we also remember the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who are unable to be with their families.....

... To every American, and to those celebrating around the globe, we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

President Issues Message on Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Today, President Trump issued a "Presidential Message on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception" (full text). The Message reads in part:

Today, I recognize every American celebrating December 8 as a Holy Day honoring the faith, humility, and love of Mary, mother of Jesus and one of the greatest figures in the Bible....

For nearly 250 years, Mary has played a distinct role in our great American story.  In 1792, less than a decade after the end of the Revolutionary War, Bishop John Carroll—the first Catholic bishop in the United States and cousin of signer of the Declaration of Independence Charles Carroll—consecrated our young Nation to the mother of Christ.  Less than a quarter-century later, Catholics attributed General Andrew Jackson’s stunning victory over the British in the climactic Battle of New Orleans to Mary.  Every year, Catholics celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving in New Orleans on January 8 in memory of Mary’s assistance in saving the city....

More than a century ago, in the midst of World War I, Pope Benedict XV, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church, commissioned and dedicated a majestic statue of Mary, Queen of Peace, bearing the infant Christ with an olive branch so that the Christian faithful would be encouraged to look to her example of peace by praying for a stop to the horrific slaughter.  Just a few months later, World War I ended.  Today, we look to Mary once again for inspiration and encouragement as we pray for an end to war and for a new and lasting era of peace, prosperity, and harmony in Europe and throughout the world....

HHS Replaces Label on Portrait of Former Official to Reflect Administration's Refusal to Recognize Changes in Gender Identity

NPR reports that the U.S. Public Health Service has altered the official portrait of Admiral Rachel Levine who served for four years as deputy assistant secretary for health policy in the Biden administration. Her portrait is one in the photo display of individuals who have led the Public Health Corps at the Department of Health and Human Services. Levine was the first transgender person to serve in a position that required Senate confirmation. According to NPR, during the recent federal government shut down, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health removed Levine's legal name (under which she served in office) from her portrait and substituted her prior name. In response to an NPR inquiry, HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon wrote:

Our priority is ensuring that the information presented internally and externally by HHS reflects gold standard science. We remain committed to reversing harmful policies enacted by Levine and ensuring that biological reality guides our approach to public health.

As previously reported, President Trump on his first day in office issued an Executive Order providing in part:

It is the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female.  These sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality....

Agencies shall remove all statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications, or other internal and external messages that promote or otherwise inculcate gender ideology, and shall cease issuing such statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications or other messages....

[Thanks to Scott Mange for the lead.] 

[CORRECTION: A prior version of this post inaccurately referred to an archived version of the HHS website as its current version.]

President Issues Thanksgiving Proclamation

President Trump this week issued a Proclamation (full text) declaring today a National Day of Thanksgiving. The Proclamation reads in part:

This year, God has bestowed abundant blessings all across our land and indeed the entire world.  As we give thanks to Him, we continue to advance our Nation through strong leadership and commonsense policy.  As a result, the American economy is roaring back, we are making progress on lowering the cost of living, a new era of peace is sweeping around the world, our sovereignty is being swiftly restored, and the American spirit is coming back greater and more powerful than ever before.

As we prepare to celebrate 250 glorious years of American independence, this Thanksgiving, we summon the faith, resolve, and unflinching fortitude of the giants of American history who came before us.  We vow to build a future that echoes their sacrifice.  Above all, we offer our endless gratitude to Almighty God for His love, grace, and infinite blessings....

Trump's Executive Order on American History Does Not Infringe Plaintiff's Free Exercise Rights

In Jeanpierre v. Trump, (D UT, November 18, 2025), a Utah federal district court dismissed a suit by the founder of a religious organization called the Black Flag challenging President Trump's Executive Order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." The court said in part:

According to Mr. Jeanpierre, this executive order “effectively establishes a state-sponsored religious doctrine of American historical exceptionalism” and, as a result, is “a direct attack on the foundational tenets of [his] sincerely held religious beliefs.”  He alleges the order prevents Mr. Jeanpierre “from exercising his religious autonomy to perceive and interpret history according to his religious conscience.”...

Mr. Jeanpierre fails to assert facts showing the executive order substantially burdens his exercise of religion.  He alleges the order “imposes a sanitized historical narrative” that prohibits “depicting American history as ‘inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed.’”  And he broadly alleges this prevents him “from exercising his religious autonomy to perceive and interpret history,” impedes his religious practice of identifying and confronting “historical realities” and “acknowledging and addressing systemic racism,” forces him to comply with an incorrect historical narrative, compels him “to violate his religious tenants regarding autonomy, truth-telling, and confrontation of systemic inequity,” and forces him “to choose between adherence to his religious principles and compliance with federal law.” 

But the executive order ...  does not demand any conduct from Mr. Jeanpierre or impose any consequence for his religious beliefs.  It orders federal agencies to remove race-centered ideology from the Smithsonian Institution and to restore public monuments, according to President Trump’s historical narrative that the country’s achievements, principles, and milestones are being undermined and cast in a negative light.  Mr. Jeanpierre does not assert he was made to alter his religious behavior in some way because of this order.  He does not even allege he visited the Smithsonian or any other monument affected by the order.  And, even if he has, the order demands nothing from him.