Reflections on the 2026 National Prayer Breakfast

12 minutes read time.

I attended the 2026 National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. I am grateful to have been invited and I am glad I attended. I did not travel to Washington D.C. for the National Prayer Breakfast specifically. I would have been in Washington this week anyway for the International Religious Freedom Summit and the Global Faith Forum. I went to build relationships with global religious leaders, become more equipped for faith based “diplomacy” around the world, and lend advocacy for persecuted people of faith on Capitol Hill. I stayed over for the National Prayer Breakfast. Though I have been invited before, this was my first time to attend the event.

The National Prayer Breakfast is a bi-partisan, non-denominational event that began 74 years ago. Originally the event was created to bring Christians together in Washington to pray for the President. I believe every president since Dwight D. Eisenhower has attended the prayer event at least once in their term. For the record if feasible I would have attended no matter who happened to be the sitting President. I believe followers of Jesus are responsible to pray for the President no matter the party or persuasion.

As I am processing the event, I would like permission to share with you my takeaways from the experience. If you are able (some will not be), I ask that you not read this as a political essay. I have very definite political opinions. I’m conservative in my political leanings on almost every issue. This is not an article about those opinions. Instead of reading this as political opinion, try to be a reader who understands these words originate from an evangelical  (in fact Southern Baptist) pastor. One who is imperfect and flawed, loves Jesus, and who is seeking to hear and obey him.  I sincerely want followers of Jesus composing the church of Jesus Christ in America to think as ambassadors of King Jesus. I believe all of the Bible is the word of God and is inherent in its original manuscripts. I try to view all of life through the lens of Scripture. In that vein here are my thoughts about the 2026 National Prayer Breakfast.

What seemed to be honoring of Jesus:

Let’s start with what I think is positive. In general, it is right and good that people of faith including pundits and politicians and religious leaders gather in the name of Jesus to pray for the President, our national leadership, and our nation in general. I hope this continues for as long as we exist as a nation.

I am grateful the meeting is bipartisan. There were democrats, republicans, and independents attending the event because they believe in the importance of prayer and carry a burden to pray for the United States and its leadership. It was more than bi-partisan. Catholics and protestants attended. Evangelicals from every denomination were represented.

Without being political, I would like to name some people that were listed on the program. I realize this is impossible (because names are political) but my intent is to highlight what was clearly biblical. I will site their names and titles as listed in the official program.

The Honorable Nayib Nukele, President of El Salvador, spoke briefly and led us in prayer for world leaders. I found his take on Scripture and his prayer to be accurate and authentic. I believe him to be a follower of Christ. I sensed humility and great leadership prowess.

The Honorable Feliz Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, offered a few words and the opening prayer. I found him to be a genuine man of faith, humble, and faced with incredible challenges. His faith in God was clear.

The Honorable Jonathan Jackson (D) – co-chair of the event offered a very few words and prayed. The Honorable Ben Cline (R) – co-chair of the event also prayed. I found both of these men to be authentic with heart felt desire for Christ to be lifted up and to pray for the betterment of the nation and its leaders.

The Honorable Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War, read Scripture and offered brief remarks. His words were biblically astute. He seemed to demonstrate genuine faith in Christ.

The Honorable Mike Johnson, speaker of the House of Representatives, prayed and offered a few remarks. His remarks indicated a genuine faith in Christ and reliance on him for wisdom.

Michael W. Smith led worship in short form. It was anointed. His worship leadership was the most Jesus focused aspect of the event in my opinion. Christ was exalted in those moments.

The Honorable Bill Lee, Governor of Tennessee, shared his family’s tragic story. He shared how Christ led them through the deepest and darkest parts of the wilderness and he honored Jesus as Lord. His message was gut-wrenching, inspiring and biblical. This man knows Jesus.

I was excited that Jelly Roll was on the program. I was sad he did not speak for whatever reason.

President Donald Trump attended. I am glad he attended the prayer meeting and I am glad we prayed for him. For all we know or think we know I am confident there is a lot we don’t know. That level of leadership is lonely requiring wisdom that comes from God. Pray for him daily.

What did not mesh with Biblical Christianity:

Paula White-Cain, Senior Advisor of the White House Faith Office, was chosen to introduce President Trump at the National Prayer Breakfast. Strictly from a biblical standpoint I find Paula White-Cain to be a charlatan and a false teacher. I am grieved she is the President’s chief faith advisor. There are other Christian people around the President who are legitimate Christian faith advisors but I don’t count Paula as one of those. Her remarks by way of introduction lifted up President Trump as a messianic savior figure for American religion.

President Donald Trump offered a speech lasting at least 1 hour and 10 minutes. There were positive aspects of the speech. For instance, he highlighted two women counselors from Camp Mystic in Texas who heroically saved the lives of 14 young girls. I’m from Texas. This meant a lot to me. I teared up remembering that tragic night and the heroism of these women. He also shared his desire for religious freedom for all faiths and he shared his fight against Christian persecution around the world. He conveyed his desire for our nation to be one nation under God again. On the surface this seems positive but how this idea is implemented, legislated, and modeled will mater more than just saying we are going to be “one nation under God again.” This is actually a heart issue dependent on the character and faith of the people of the United States.

Most of the speech was political, boorish, braggadocios, and brash. It was loaded with “beating the crap out of…” certain countries and “beating the hell out of…” other countries, not in the same way Aggies BTHO of other football teams. He was alienating of democrats who follow Jesus and chastised anyone who said anything bad about “Trump,” in a joking manner. He said he would take away our (churches) tax-exempt status if we did say anything against him. Again, he was joking, but still. I really should not have been surprised by any of this. I think I hoped to hear more of his personal faith and what Jesus was doing in his life and leadership as President. In the most concerning part of his speech he said, “Religion is hot again in America. I brought religion back.” He expounded on this saying that churches are packed again and more Bibles are being sold now that Trump is President. I think the catalyst is misguided. If there is a movement of Christian faith going on in America it is sourced in the Sovereignty of King Jesus, the movement of the Holy Spirit, and the repentance of people. After listening to President Trump for 70 plus minutes, I felt conflicted. After all, I thought this was a meeting for prayer not a political rally.

If you are angry at this point with my assessment, I just want to reiterate my purpose. These are my thoughts after a very specific event. This is a report of what I heard through the lens of a biblical worldview. I do believe God is sovereign and chooses our leaders for one purpose or another in any given season, even in a democracy where we all have a vote.  There are many Scriptures demonstrating this. Let me share just one.

Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

What concerns me the most is not the President or politics:

As I left the National Prayer Breakfast, I felt a little sad and conflicted. Why?

I am concerned some Christians are confused in our country. America is a great republic. As history plays out it will one day be viewed as somewhat of an empire. It is great and powerful in a worldly sense. I am grateful to be a citizen of the United States of America. There is nowhere else I would rather live. But, as followers of Jesus, our hope and purposes are centered in the Kingdom of God. Our lives are to be lived as ambassadors for Christ here in America. Our hope is in the return of Christ and the restoration of all things that is to come through Jesus.

There was an element of idolatry at the National Prayer Breakfast. I pay attention to little things. When the President entered, everyone stood. Many cheered at points in the President’s speech that were seemingly antithetical to the way of Jesus. When the President finished his speech, everyone stood even if it was just out of respect for the office. I have no problem with that respectful action.

When the Word of God was read in contrast, people were even milling about giving the  unintentional vibe of lesser important words being spoken. When Michael W. Smith led his first worship song after President Trump’s speech, a few of us stood in worship. Many just sat. I wondered, “Why stand for the President and not the King of the Universe?” In a real sense some of the church has an ungodly fascination with and hope in President Trump who is now the most visible “Christian” in the world.  

My view is that at least some of the church of Jesus tends to put the President in the place of highest authority, over and above Jesus and his Kingdom. In this way Jesus becomes less authoritative and more of a mascot or a good luck charm for the nation. The greatest focus for some Christians becomes the nation and its purposes over and above the Kingdom of God and the purposes of God. This isn’t a political problem or a Presidential problem, this is a church of Jesus problem. It was highlighted for me again at the National Prayer Breakfast.

The Bible says Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In America we don’t have kings. We have presidents. In our understanding then, President Trump is a President but Jesus Christ is the President of Presidents. Jesus is working His purposes for His Kingdom’s sake. America is great but the Kingdom of God is the greatest. Seek first the Kingdom of God is the admonition.

I hopped in an Uber to drive from my hotel near the White House heading to the Ronald Reagan National Airport. I looked out the window as we passed the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial. It reminded me I am a grateful American. It reminded me that we should do our part as voters, advocates, leaders, and even warriors for the good of America as American citizens.

We paused in traffic and I looked out to see the building housing the Department of Commerce. As an avid student of archaeology in foreign lands I have many times walked among the ruins of the Roman Empire. I observed the Department of Commerce was constructed of large, hewn stones, fluted columns, and even etched with artistry I have seen leveled and buried in the dirt of Turkiye, Lebanon, Israel, and Egypt. History reminds us that empires come and go. One day these American columns at the Department of Commerce will also be dug out of the dirt and studied as evidence of a fallen empire. I pray for long prosperity for America but if the Lord tarries for 1000 more years, it is unlikely, based on history, that America will as well.

I don’t mean to conclude with doom and gloom. I pray for the success of our nation and human flourishing throughout the United States and the globe because of the policies of the United States. I am praying for President Trump and our national leaders. My prayer is the church of Jesus Christ will never misplace hope or get America and the leader of the free world confused with the Sovereign King of the Universe and the Kingdom of God.

Pray this with me.

Our Father in Heaven. Hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

God bless America.