Faith and Politics Collide as Dueling Prayer Breakfasts Expose Divide Over Trump’s Immigration Agenda
Two competing National Prayer Breakfast gatherings in Washington this week laid bare deep religious and political divisions in the United States, particularly over President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and the role of faith in public life. What was once a largely unified bipartisan event has increasingly become a stage for contrasting theological and political visions.
Speaking at the long established National Prayer Breakfast held at the Washington Hilton, Donald Trump used his remarks to blend religious language with sharp political attacks. Addressing a large and supportive audience, Trump questioned how people of faith could support Democrats and criticized members of his own party who oppose his agenda. His speech, which lasted more than an hour, focused as much on defending his administration and record as on spiritual reflection.
The Hilton gathering was one of two prayer breakfasts held on the same day. The second event took place at the U.S. Capitol and was organized by members of Congress under a newer National Prayer Breakfast Foundation. This split dates back to the COVID 19 period and concerns over the Fellowship Foundation, the evangelical group that historically coordinated the event. While earlier announcements suggested a return to a single breakfast this year, lawmakers proceeded with the Capitol gathering anyway.
The contrast between the two events was striking. The Capitol breakfast featured Scripture readings, prayers, and a keynote address from Senate Chaplain Barry Black, with a noticeably restrained political tone. By comparison, religious politics took center stage at the Hilton, especially around immigration and enforcement policies.
Trump referenced recent protests at a church in Minnesota linked to an immigration enforcement official, as well as arrests of demonstrators and journalists. Following his speech, Representative Jonathan Jackson offered a prayer that appeared to allude to recent deaths during federal enforcement actions, asking that the president be mindful of the poor and of families suffering loss.
The Hilton audience also heard from Nayib Bukele, whom Trump praised for cooperating with the United States on detention and deportation efforts. Bukele defended El Salvador’s mass incarceration policies as divinely guided, despite international concern over human rights abuses. Trump, however, also criticized Bukele for what he claimed was allowing criminals to reach the United States.
Religious criticism of Trump’s immigration agenda has intensified in recent weeks. Clergy and faith leaders have staged protests, some resulting in arrests, and multiple religious organizations have filed lawsuits against the administration. These challenges argue that immigration crackdowns, deportations, and the near shutdown of refugee admissions violate religious freedom and moral teachings, including protections for asylum seekers.
The debate has also reached the Vatican. Pope Leo XIV recently criticized aspects of U.S. immigration policy, prompting a public theological defense from House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Religion scholars say the dueling prayer breakfasts reflect a fractured religious landscape. Competing Christian interpretations now shape opposing views on immigration, power, and moral responsibility. While faith continues to intersect with politics, these events revealed how divided American Christianity has become over what it means to live out religious values in public life.
