Marco Rubio Calls for a Celebration of Faith and Prayer to Mark America's 250th Anniversary

Senator Marco Rubio has extended an invitation to Americans for an event titled "Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving," scheduled for Sunday, May 17, at the National Mall in Washington D.C. This grand act of faith and prayer is a significant part of the celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the United States' independence.

"The United States has always recognized that its numerous blessings are not mere chance but a gift from providence. On May 17, I invite you to join us at the National Mall for Rededicate 250, a national jubilee of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving in Washington D.C. Let us gather in unity to give thanks for two and a half centuries of freedom and to rededicate our future as a nation under God," Rubio posted on his official X account.

Organized by Freedom 250—an initiative that forms a public-private alliance with the White House—the event will commence at 8:00 AM with a sunrise worship service in front of the Capitol and will continue until 7:00 PM.

Admission is free, and tickets can be reserved at freedom250.org. Children do not require registration.

Notable attendees include Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and former HUD Secretary Ben Carson, who serves as the Vice Chair of the Religious Freedom Commission. Rubio will participate via a video message rather than in person.

Experts cited by Religion News Service suggest that the gathering might become the largest religious assembly in the United States in the past 50 years.

The organizers draw a symbolic connection between this event and the directive issued by George Washington in 1776 to observe a day of "fasting, humiliation, and prayer" following the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The official description of the event emphasizes that it is "more than an event; it's a once-in-a-lifetime national moment."

This occasion is part of the semiquincentennial celebrations—the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776—with the central date being July 4, 2026. In 2025, the Trump administration established a Task Force, chaired by the president, to coordinate these celebrations through an executive order.

Rubio, a Cuban-American born in Miami and the son of Cuban immigrants, openly identifies as a Christian and has consistently linked his faith to his political vision throughout his career.

This week, in a video highlighting the American Dream, he described the history of the United States as "a story of perpetual improvement," where each generation leaves the country freer, more prosperous, and more secure.

The event is not without controversy. The Freedom From Religion Foundation filed lawsuits in April, arguing that the event violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, claiming that the expenditure of federal funds—estimated at $50 million—on an initiative with explicitly Christian content constitutes an unconstitutional endorsement of religion by the state.

In his post today, Rubio captured the essence of the event: "American history has always been rooted in faith, courage, and freedom. Rededicate 250 on Sunday, May 17, will celebrate that history and pray for the next chapter."