President Donald Trump is set to join the National Prayer Breakfast this Thursday at the Capitol. This event, which has been a tradition in Washington for over 70 years, brings together lawmakers from both parties for a time of fellowship and reflection. In addition to the Capitol event, Trump will also speak at a separate prayer breakfast organized by a private group in Washington.
During his previous attendance at the prayer breakfast, Trump made headlines by addressing the Senate’s decision to acquit him during his first impeachment trial. He used that platform to take jabs at Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Mitt Romney, who cited his faith when justifying his vote against Trump. Trump expressed his disapproval of those who use faith to justify actions he believes are wrong, stating, “I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong.”
The National Prayer Breakfast dates back to February 1953 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower attended as the first sitting president. It has since become a meeting point for leaders across the political spectrum.
The honorary co-chairs for this year’s breakfast include Democratic Senator Maggie Hassan from New Hampshire and Republican Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas. Recent years have seen a split in the format of the event: in 2023, it divided into two separate gatherings — one at the Capitol, attended by lawmakers, and a larger private event in a hotel ballroom. This was prompted by lawmakers’ concerns about distancing themselves from the private group that had traditionally organized the larger gathering.
In both 2023 and 2024, President Joe Biden spoke at the Capitol event, with his remarks being shared with attendees at the separate event. However, it remains to be seen how Trump’s participation will shape the dialogue at the breakfast this year.
