With less than a year before the 250th anniversary of the United States, President Donald Trump launched an unprecedented presidential initiative: America Prays. Announced on September 8, 2025, at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, this initiative invites the American people to reposition God at the center of society and to unite in prayer. The initiative, inviting Americans to form weekly prayer groups, each encouraged to dedicate one hour per week to prayer, presents prayer not just as an individual spiritual act, but also as a collective tool with the power to transform personal lives and the destiny of the nation.
America Prays sits within a long American tradition where faith has always been a cornerstone of national development. The swearing of the President on the Bible and the invocation of God in the U.S. Constitution are two notable examples. The inscription “In God We Trust” on the currency remains a daily reminder of this role of faith in the country’s identity.
One Nation Under God
America Prays Initiative marks a significant moment. Although American Presidents have annually called on the American people to pray for many years under the law of Congress, President Trump is taking things to the next level by urging the nation to restore God and prayer to the center of collective life. Indeed, the initiative seeks unity: “One Nation under God,” praying for the “strength, peace, and prosperity of the nation” as declared by President Trump. American people united by faith gains cohesion and resilience, better equipped to face collective challenges. Prayer thus becomes not only a spiritual practice but also a social and moral instrument: it connects individuals and reminds us that a society’s strength is measured by its solidarity and shared consciousness. During the event, the President emphasized that the strength of a nation depends above all on its citizens, and that collective prayer can strengthen both the people and the country.
The initiative conveys a message of hope, peace, and humanity, stressing that faith can unite citizens and contribute to the common good. This new presidential call is significant: it turns prayer into both a public and patriotic act, blending spirituality with national identity and offering a universal message of hope and peace.
The Power of Prayer
America Prays goes even further: it also asks citizens to pray for peace across the world; a reminder, in a fraught international climate, that moral responsibility does not stop at national borders, underscoring the responsibility we all share for the global common good, and the transformative power of prayer. As the 250th anniversary approaches, this movement could become a powerful symbol of international unity and spiritual inspiration, while reminding the world of prayer’s universal reach.
It is, above all, a message of hope and optimism. Scott Turner, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, invited the citizens to witness the “miracles and transformations” that prayer can bring, whether in society, in human relationships, or in responding to both personal and collective challenges. The initiative encourages everyone to believe in the power of prayer and to experience firsthand, through collective commitment, the positive effects it can generate.
In this way, America Prays takes part in a broader debate on the role of spirituality in social cohesion, from the neighbourhood level to the global stage. Through the call to prayer, what is offered is not merely a religious gesture, but an invitation to introspection, to the search for meaning, and to collective responsibility. In a world marked by conflict, it is a reminder that peace is not built solely through diplomacy or military force, but also through a shared spiritual and moral effort.
Enlightened Governance
The President’s call to pray for “government leaders” highlights that governance can be nurtured, stenghtened and protected by faith and spirituality, making it more than policy-making, with leaders guided by a higher principle. Much like First Nations leaders have traditionally sought the Creator’s guidance before every meeting.
This message resonates, in a sense, with the notion of sophocracy: a model of governance in which power is entrusted to those considered to be the wisest. The word comes from the Greek sophia, meaning “wisdom,” and kratos, meaning “power.” In this vision, governing consists of making informed, fair decisions guided by the common good, moral conscience, and a deep understanding of the human and spiritual consequences of political choices. It is a form of leadership based on wisdom rather than ideology, discernment rather than personal interests, and moral responsibility rather than the pursuit of popularity.
Prayer, then, goes beyond a religious practice: it is a way of fostering collective wisdom, of uniting individuals, and of building a society guided not only by laws, but also by the inner depth of its people.
A Personal Transformation for a Collective Impact
In the end, America Prays invites us to rediscover something both ancient and urgently needed: the idea that a nation’s strength does not rest solely on its institutions, but on the heart of its people. Whether one approaches prayer as faith, meditation, intention, or simply a moment of clarity, the initiative raises a deeper question: what kind of society do we become when we choose to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and unity at the collective level?
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, this call offers more than a program; it offers a mirror. It asks every citizen, regardless of belief, to consider how personal transformation shapes public life, and how inner alignment might influence the world we build together. In a time of global uncertainty, the question is no longer just whether we pray, but what we choose to elevate: fear or hope, division or unity, unrest or wisdom.
Perhaps the true legacy of America Prays will not be measured in the number of prayer groups formed, but in the kind of national consciousness it inspires; one that sees leadership as service, unity and peace as strength, and spirituality, in its many forms, as a force capable of guiding a people toward a more humane, grounded, and enlightened future.
