This has drawn criticism of the event as an overt display of Christian nationalism undermining the separation of church and state protected in the United States<\/a> constitution.<\/p>\n Prayer rally pushed narrative of Christian nationalism<\/p>\n The organizers streamed a video of Trump in the White House reading verses from 2 Chronicles in the Old Testament. The video was the same footage used during a marathon Bible-reading event in April.<\/p>\n “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways,” Trump read, “then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”<\/p>\n The verses are often cited by those who claim America was founded as a Christian nation. They see “my people” in the passage as being Americans and “land” as American land.<\/p>\n Other prominent officials on the program included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and House Speaker Mike Johnson.<\/p>\n Hegseth referenced the mythical account that the first US President George Washington prayed “without ceasing” for his army’s salvation in the winter of 1777-78 at a critical moment in the American Revolution at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n Some Christians say the account proves the United States was founded upon the biblical principles of Christian faith.<\/p>\nUS President Donald Trump was one of several government officals addressing the Rededicate 250 prayer rallyImage: Matthew Hatcher\/AFP<\/p>\n