Thousands of people gathered in Washington, DC, on Sunday for a large prayer rally called “Rededicate 250”. Organizers said the event was meant to honor faith and renew the country’s spiritual values. The gathering took place on the National Mall near the Washington Monument. The event lasted all day and focused heavily on Christian worship and prayer. Large crowds filled the area as music played from a stage designed with religious symbols. The stage included stained-glass windows and images of America’s founders beside a large white cross. Many well-known conservative Christian leaders spoke during the rally. Pastor Samuel Rodriguez told the crowd that America still has a future tied to faith. He said the country may have turned away from God, but God has not turned away from America. The rally also featured support from allies of President Donald Trump. Organizers played a video message of Trump reading from the Bible. The recording came from another faith event held earlier this year called “America Reads the Bible”. Trump read a passage from the Old Testament book of 2 Chronicles. The verse is often used by people who believe the United States was founded as a Christian nation. The passage calls on people to pray, seek God, and turn away from wrongdoing. Several Republican leaders joined the event either in person or through video messages. Senator Tim Scott received loud cheers when he asked the crowd if they believed in Jesus. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also sent a video message. He spoke about the story of George Washington praying with his troops during the American Revolution. Hegseth urged Americans to continue praying for the nation. House Speaker Mike Johnson used his speech to criticize modern views of American history. He said some groups are trying to teach young people that America’s story is mainly about failure and oppression. Johnson rejected those ideas and said the country’s moral and spiritual identity should be protected. His comments drew applause from many people in the audience. The event mainly featured evangelical Christian speakers. Rabbi Meir Soloveichik was the only non-Christian speaker listed on the program. Critics quickly raised concerns about the rally and its political ties. Some faith groups and civil rights organizations said the event crossed the line between religion and government. Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, who leads the Christian group Sojourners, said the rally promoted only one narrow form of Christianity. He warned that such events could weaken America’s long-standing support for religious freedom. Other activist groups organized protests near the National Mall. The Freedom From Religion Foundation and Faithful America displayed a large golden calf balloon shaped like Trump. The image referred to the biblical story about idol worship. Another group, Interfaith Alliance, projected messages on the side of the National Gallery of Art days before the rally. One message read, “Democracy not theocracy.” Another said the separation of church and state benefits both religion and government. Supporters of the rally argued that prayer and faith have always played an important role in American history. Many attendees said they came to pray for unity, peace, and national healing. Critics, however, said the event reflected growing Christian nationalism in politics. They warned that government-backed religious events may leave out Americans who follow other faiths or no religion at all. According to the Pew Research Center, more than one-quarter of Americans now identify as atheist, agnostic, or religiously unaffiliated. That shift has increased debate over the role religion should play in public life. Officials estimated that about 15,000 people attended the prayer rally. The event became one of the largest faith gatherings in Washington this year and added new attention to the ongoing national debate over religion, politics, and American identity.