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The Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Americans this Saturday to participate in "Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving," a major act of faith and prayer scheduled for Sunday May 17 at the National Mall in Washington D.C., as part of the celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States.
"United States has always been a nation that understands that its many blessings are not the result of 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 come together in unity to give thanks for two and a half centuries of freedom and to rededicate our future as a nation under God," he posted on his official X account.
The event, organized by Freedom 250 —a platform that coordinates a public-private partnership with the White House—, will open its doors at 8:00 AM with a sunrise worship service in front of the Capitol and will run until 7:00 PM.
The tickets are free and can be reserved at freedom250.org; children do not need to register.
Among the confirmed participants are the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson; the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth; and the former Secretary of Housing Ben Carson, Vice Chair of the Commission on Religious Freedom. Rubio will participate via a video message, not in person.
Experts cited by Religion News Service predict that the event could become the largest religious gathering in the United States in the past 50 years.
The organizers symbolically link the event to the order given 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 act notes that it is "more than just an event: it is an unparalleled national moment."
The event is part of the celebrations for the semi-quincentennial —the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776— with the central date being July 4, 2026. The Trump administration established a Task Force through executive order in 2025, chaired by the president himself, to coordinate these celebrations.
Rubio, a Cuban-American born in Miami and son of Cuban immigrants, openly identifies as a Christian and has connected 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" in which each generation leaves the country more free, prosperous, and secure.
The event is not without controversy. The Freedom From Religion Foundation filed lawsuits in April claiming that the event violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, arguing that the use of federal funds—estimated at 50 million dollars—for an initiative with explicitly Christian content represents an unconstitutional endorsement of a religion by the State.
Rubio encapsulated the spirit of the event in his post today: “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.”
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