America’s National Prayer Breakfast Shows There’s Still a Place at the Table for God
During the 2016 presidential campaign, many people said Donald Trump did not have a prayer.
As it turned out, he had more than a prayer. He also had enough votes to upset the favorite, Hillary Clinton. And now Mr. Trump is involved with prayer again.
Last week the 66th annual National Prayer Breakfast was held at the Washington Hilton Hotel in the nation’s capital. There Trump reminded Americans about our Judeo-Christian roots. As well as the centrality of religious faith.
The president said that God rests at the center of everything. From our dreams to our founding documents to our monuments, our mottos and even our money.
Trump Gives Credit Where Credit Is Due
Every president since Dwight D. Eisenhower has attended the National Prayer Breakfast. Here are some of Trump’s remarks during the recent event:
“Our rights are not given to us by man. Our rights come from our Creator.”
“Faith is central to American life and to liberty.”
“As long as we open our hearts to God’s grace, America will be free, the home of the brave and the light to all nations.”
“America is a nation of believers, and together we are strengthened by the power of prayer.”
God and Country Is the Theme
It’s nice to hear a president utter those types of words, isn’t it?
Especially when so many people today want to remove God from our everyday lives. Including conversations, our written documents and even the public square.
But as Trump pointed out, God is still at the forefront of our nation’s consciousness.
He reminded his audience that the Declaration of Independence mentions God four times. Printed on our coins and currency is “In God We Trust.” Our Pledge of Allegiance includes the phrase, “one nation, under God.” And etched on the top of the Washington Monument are the words, “Praise be to God.”
Atheists Diss Trump for Christian References
Needless to say, atheists were not pleased about the event in general. And especially about some of Trump’s remarks.
They said he only referenced Christianity – specifically Jesus Christ – in his remarks. And left out other faiths.
Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association said, “Trump has taken these government-endorsed prayer breakfasts to a new low, demonstrating his ignorance and disdain for the growing diversity of faiths and philosophies found in the country he’s supposed to be leading.”
He also criticized Trump for attributing the recovery of an ill 9-year-old girl to God. Rather than to doctors and scientists.
Scalise Says His Faith Was Strengthened
The National Prayer Breakfast’s keynote speaker was Representative Steve Scalise. He is a Republican from Louisiana.
If you recall, Scalise was shot during a charity baseball game practice last year in Alexandria, Virginia. He needed several surgeries to recover.
About the shooting, Scalise said, “It’s only strengthened my faith in God, and it’s really crystalized what shows up as the goodness in people.”
Previously, Scalise said the tragedy had given him a “renewed faith.”
Trump Compared to Paul Harvey
One Fox News commentator compared Trump’s National Prayer Breakfast address to what many of us used to hear from the late renowned newsman, Paul Harvey.
Although their personalities were very different, both appealed to a large conservative base.
The writer pointed out that Harvey and Trump had these things in common:
- They were both unapologetically pro-America.
- Neither shied away from controversy.
- They both shined the spotlight on American greatness.
- They were both proud salesmen and negotiators.
- They were both white-collar guys with blue-collar sense.
- They were both brief and to the point.
High-Profile Keynote Speakers
The National Prayer Breakfast typically draws about 3,500 guests from more than 100 countries.
The event is organized on behalf of U.S. Congress members by a Christian organization known as The Fellowship Foundation.
Past keynote speakers have included Mother Teresa, neurosurgeon and presidential candidate Ben Carson, author and pastor Max Lucado, U2 singer Bono and former NASCAR driver Darrell Waltrip.
The 67th annual event will be held in early February 2019.
Obama cancelled the National Prayer Breakfast one year. Your comment about it being attended every year by Presidents needs clarification
I Could never agree with Donald Trump he is a egotistical pig and the only one he cares about is himself and money. I’m glad I don’t live in United States because I would move when he was elected.
How stupid can some Americans be, to elect a bombastic. Bastard like Him. Sorry for the state America is at the moment… I like U.s but Trump sure changed things in a short,time.
Thank God for men and organizations like you who believe in God and our country.
Thank God we have a leader who is not afraid of acknowledging the One true leader of us all.
Amen!!!!
MY GOD! You won’t publish any informed dissent, but I have to oppose your narrow-minded propaganda.
Do you really think that this lying cheat, a rapist of a thirteen year old girl, etc., ad infinitum, thinks that there is any god greater than himself??? Get Real! You are being USED by this faker who says/promises one thing and then does the exact opposite! I pity you, because you’re being hoodwinked by a bastard who doesn’t know the first thing about being a true follower of Christ!
Too bad you also don’t believe in our constitution that supports free of speech, either!
I thank you God for a President & Vice President who know God
& bring God’s strength back to
Our country, founded Under God!
I rejoice that our president has a strong Christian background. I believe that God gave us, we the people of the United States, another chance to made our country a leader in taking the Gospel to the rest of the world. We need to need sure our own people has accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
Thank God for President Trump!! It is such a Great change in America for the best!
He is MY PRESIDENT!!
Well I can see why not. Does not conform with your views on trumps phony message. Amazing wool over eyes.
Trump does give a hoot about Christians or anyone else. He s an amoral person who just promotes himself. He says whatever sounds good at the moment. So glad Christians feel he’s on their side. What a joke.
I just listened again to the keynote speech from Feb 2012 by Googling Eric Metaxis Prayer Breakfast and You Tube popped up. It was well worth the time.
Good please bless America, and God bless Presdent Trump and all that stand up for what is moral and right for this country !!!
At the prayer breakfsst early in the Obama administration my friend and author Eric Metaxas was the keynote speaker and presented the president with a copy of one of his recent books.
Praise the Lord for a God-fearing Christian President!
How anybody can praise Trump for his “Christian” virtues, is beyond me!!! He was a disgrace in his speech last year at the Prayer breakfast, going on and on bragging how his TV show was so successful and putting his replacement down. The Bible lists “A Proud Look as one of the sins God hates, pride is always deplored in the Bible along with so many of his narcissistic traits. I have never heard such a braggart, self righteous leader in the White House. I would like to remind you of God’s recipe for healing of our land: 2nd Chron 7: “If my people will HUMBLE themselves and call on my name….etc. Did you ever hear a humble word come out of the mouth of Donald Trump? Where are your Godly values?
Great read
Paul Harvey was a great man. I am sure President Trump is proud to be in the same catigory. Praise God, Jesus,and the Holy Ghost.
We finally have a president we can be proud of. Thank God.
It is so good to have a President who is not only unafraid to bring God and his son Jesus back into our country again, but will openly declare the word of God for all to witness the way it should be. My faith is restored in our leadership once again. Hallelujah. God bless America and Donald Trump
I thank God for God fearing believing presidents. Pres Trump is where he is because believing Christians prayed the vote in 2016
While I understand many not feeling like Trump included the variety of faiths we have here, as a Christian, I have been ignored, bullied and avoided by the last administration and the following Liberals who insist I have no say. It is nice to hear a President bring us back around to what gave this country strength and a reason to see the good in everyone. What a shame that conflict and dissention is the word of the day instead of, Thanks.