Trump-backed faith event features conservative Christians as critics decry blurring of church-state lines - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwwFBVV95cUxNcVZ4cEtfNjdnNlFuZ3ZNeVQyWWpMZl9TTVdXVlJUT0pOOWRnS1B4OEZyTlBrXzl3T3Bhb1c5QVZ1M3B0TkMteTFpYjluejJacnZZd3ZSak13VzlJYURJY0ZMeEhPMHQ5SFRDWC1BdTZoZWJYTndON09JZnIwb0JueXJFTHY1WDlmbERoaUd2cTdiRll3a2VfU1EzREhONzNiVmlyd084V09tWl91MkJETHR0aVVfRm50aHVSOTRjSW1IeE0?oc=5" target="_blank">Trump-backed faith event features conservative Christians as critics decry blurring of church-state lines</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

A Trump administration-backed celebration of U.S. religious heritage on Sunday is highlighting conservative Christian leaders' ties to the president as critics say the gathering does not reflect the country's diverse faith landscape.

At a Trump-backed national prayer event in Washington, D.C., conservative speaker and children's author Eric Metaxas made a controversial and widely mocked statement, claiming that God chose Donald Trump to finally build a ballroom in the White House—a project that has, surprisingly, not existed in the residence’s two-century history.

On May 17, 2026, President Donald Trump chose to skip 'Rededicate 250,' a White House-backed event aimed at rededicating the United States to God, opting instead to spend the day golfing at his club in Sterling, Virginia.

Thousands gathered on the National Mall for a Trump-backed 'Rededicate 250' prayer rally blending worship, patriotism, and claims that the U.S. is a Christian nation, spotlighting rising Christian influence in the U.S. government.

An all-day prayer event on the National Mall on Sunday—backed by the White House through a mix of taxpayer funds and private donations—is the most recent flashpoint in the Trump administration blurring separation of church and state.