President Donald Trump announced a national gathering for May 17, 2026, inviting citizens from across the country to come together at the National Mall in Washington to take part in a day of prayer, fasting, and spiritual reflection. The initiative, he explained, aims to “rededicate the United States as one nation under God,” describing it as a moment of renewal for the nation’s spirit.
During the announcement, Trump described the event as an opportunity to strengthen the spiritual values that, according to him, have been part of the country’s origins. He said the gathering is intended to bring together Americans from different communities to give thanks, pray, and reaffirm a moral commitment to the principles that have historically guided the nation.
The chosen date also carries a historical reference. The announcement recalled April 30, 1789, when George Washington became President of the United States and delivered his first inaugural address at Federal Hall in New York City. At that moment, Washington spoke about the relationship between a nation’s prosperity and its respect for the principles of justice and moral order—ideas he later reinforced when he went with legislators to St. Paul’s Chapel to participate in a national prayer.
Trump stated that this historical tradition shows that faith and public life have been connected since the earliest years of the country. According to him, the gathering on May 17 seeks to recover that spirit of unity and national reflection, emphasizing that the strength of the United States is also rooted in the spiritual values shared by its people.
The call comes at a time when conservative sectors within the United States have increasingly promoted a return to religious principles in the public sphere. With this announcement, Trump aims to mobilize thousands of citizens in the capital for an event that combines history, religion, and politics, reinforcing the message that American national identity is deeply tied to its spiritual heritage.
