WASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeSiteNews) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a video address to Sunday’s Rededicate 250 prayer event on the National Mall, noted that the founding of the United States was rooted in ancient Christian practices such as prayer and fasting.
In his brief remarks at the May 17 event, Rubio highlighted that on that very day in 1776, the Continental Congress had called on the American colonists to observe a national day of prayer and fasting in preparation for the looming war with Britain. Rubio, a Catholic, also noted that, in a time of uncertainty, the founders had turned their eyes to God, just as Christians had done for nearly 2,000 years, and thus, according to the secretary, the country is rooted in the Christian faith.
On this day 250 years ago, our forefathers gathered for a national day of fasting and prayer. Today, Americans will come together again as one Nation under God.
This is who we are and who we’ve always been. pic.twitter.com/0r4QUsy1hY
— Department of State (@StateDept) May 17, 2026
“The resolution of the Continental Congress called on the 13 colonies to humble themselves in preparation for the coming war,” Rubio said. “The founders were not naive men; they had no guarantees of victory. They knew that what they were trying to do had never been done before in human history.”
“But with the dark storm clouds of war looming on the horizon, they did what Christians have always done across place and time for 2,000 years, they turned their eyes to Heaven, and placed their faith in the hands of God,” he added. “America is still a young nation… And from the beginning, we have carried the belief that our country represents something new in the world, but the soul of our nation has always been rooted in an ancient faith.”
READ: Marco Rubio outshines bumbling AOC in dueling visions at Munich Security Conference
LifeSite editor-in-chief John-Henry Westen emphasized in an X post that America needs to pray and fast once again, especially in these times, to cast out demons.
Marco Rubio recalls that 250 years ago May 17 was a day of fasting and prayer. America needs that again today – fasting and prayer. The very ingredients that Our Lord said would cast out demons. pic.twitter.com/YI5ScLgquM
— John-Henry Westen (@JhWesten) May 18, 2026
The Rededicate 250 event served to bring Americans of faith to the National Mall to “pray, give thanks, and rededicate our nation as ONE NATION UNDER GOD,” ahead of the nation’s semi-quincentennial. Other prominent speakers from the Trump administration included President Donald Trump himself, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Several noteworthy American faith leaders, including Bishop Robert Barron, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, and Franklin Graham, also spoke at the event.