President Trump Unveils America Prays Initiative, Champions Religious Freedom at Museum of the Bible

Washington, D.C., September 8, 2025 – In an address at the Museum of the Bible, President Donald J. Trump reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting religious liberties and launched the America Prays initiative, a nationwide call for unity in prayer as the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. Speaking before the White House Religious Liberty Commission, the President underscored the centrality of faith in America’s identity and outlined new measures to safeguard religious freedoms.

“When faith gets weaker, our country seems to get weaker. When faith gets stronger… good things happen for our country,” President Trump declared. “Under the Trump Administration, we’re defending our rights and restoring our identity as a nation under God. We are One Nation Under God — and we always will be.”

The America Prays initiative, a cornerstone of the President’s address, invites faith communities across the nation to join in prayer for the country’s strength, peace, and prosperity. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner announced that over 70 faith organizations and churches have already pledged their participation. “Think about the miracles that would take place over the next year… the transformation that you and I could witness in communities all across the land,” Turner said, highlighting the initiative’s potential to inspire change.

President Trump also previewed forthcoming Department of Education guidance aimed at protecting the right to pray in public schools, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to ensuring religious expression in educational settings. “I am pleased to announce this morning that the Department of Education will soon issue new guidance protecting the right to prayer in our public schools,” he stated.

During his remarks, the President welcomed 12-year-old Shay, a California student who faced pressure at school to read material promoting what Trump described as “radical gender ideology” that conflicted with the student’s religious beliefs. The President used the example to underscore the importance of protecting students’ rights to adhere to their faith without coercion.

In a pointed critique, President Trump called out Virginia Senator Tim Kaine for recent comments questioning the notion that rights are endowed by a Creator, as stated in the Declaration of Independence. “The Senator from Virginia should be ashamed of himself,” Trump said, emphasizing that America’s founding document proclaims the divine origin of rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The President reiterated the vital role of religion in maintaining a strong nation, stating, “To have a great nation, you have to have religion. I believe that so strongly. There has to be something after we go through all of this — and that something is God.” He vowed that his administration would never waver in defending American values of faith, adding, “We will never apologize for our faith — ever, ever, never, never. We will never surrender our God-given rights.”

The event, held at the Museum of the Bible, underscored President Trump’s broader agenda to promote religious liberty as a fundamental pillar of American society. As the nation prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary, the America Prays initiative aims to unite Americans across diverse faith traditions in a shared commitment to the country’s future.

The White House Religious Liberty Commission and the America Prays initiative signal a renewed focus on faith-based policies as the Trump administration continues to prioritize religious freedom in its second term.