President Donald Trump kicked off Thursday’s National Prayer Breakfast with a blockbuster announcement about what he’s planning to do in the near future. While addressing a packed room, the president announced a prayer event will be held on the National Mall this coming May, apparently as part of America’s 250th birthday celebrations.
“This morning, I’m pleased to announce that on May 17, 2026, that we’re inviting Americans from all across the country to come together on our National Mall, to pray, to give thanks, to rededicate America as one nation under God,” Trump said.
Trump humorously remarked that he occasionally feels unprepared to headline the National Prayer Breakfast, yet he fears abstaining due to the potential for divine retribution.
“This is a beautiful American tradition, and it’s a true honor to be back,” Trump told his audience at the Washington Hilton. “I think I’ve been here just about every time. It’s hard to turn it down. I don’t have the courage to turn it down.”
“The last time I came, I got in [to DC] at 4 in the morning. They said, ‘Sir, you’re going to be speaking at 7,’” he added. “I said, ‘I’ll be there. I’m afraid not to be. I need all the help I can get.’”
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Trump lauded Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and dismissed the criticism she has faced for overseeing the raid on an election center in Georgia last week.
“She took a lot of heat two days ago because … she looked at the votes that want to be checked out from Georgia. They say, ‘Why is she doing it?’ Because she’s smart,” Trump said.
Trump dismissed speculation regarding Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s precarious position amidst contentious immigration raids in Minneapolis.
“They were saying about Kristi Noem yesterday — I did the Super Bowl interview — ‘Sir, are you the one to relieve Kristi Noem of her duties?’ I said, ‘Why would I do that?’ We have the strongest border in the history of our country. We have the best crime numbers we’ve ever had,” Trump said.
Trump also gave shoutouts to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Attorney General Pam Bondi, telling his audience: “We have an unbelievable bench.”
The president also bragged that military recruitment has rebounded under his watch and briefly mused about having Congress further expand it.
“Nobody wanted to be in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, the Coast Guard, Space Force — which is turning out to be good. I’m so proud of it because I was the, I’m the father of Space Force. I’m the one that wanted it. We have waiting lists of people wanting to get in. In fact, if we want to expand the military, Mr. Speaker [Mike Johnson], this would be a very good time to do it,” Trump said in reference to recruitment under the Biden administration.
In his earlier remarks, President Trump expressed frustration over having to negotiate with approximately nine dissenting House Republicans during crucial votes and criticized Libertarian-leaning Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) as a “moron.”
The president described receiving calls from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) during the early morning, requesting assistance in managing obstinate GOP legislators.
“What time is it? It’s three in the morning. So we have nine names giving us difficulty. They want to have a phone call,” Trump recalled. “S—. All right, let’s go. Here we go.”
Trump then mocked his calls with Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and talked about how some of the rabble-rousers wanted to have breakfast with him.
“We have one that doesn’t get there,” he said in reference to Massie. “We have one guy. He’s an automatic no, no matter what. If we did welfare reform, if we did the greatest thing in history for religion, no matter what we did… [he] voted against it.”