In what has become an annual ritual, evangelical leaders gathered around President Donald Trump in the Oval Office March 5 and prayed over him and for U.S. success in the war against Iran.
The photo-op prayer time was organized by Paula White Cain, head of the White House Office on Faith and a health-and-wealth televangelist known for her controversial fundraising approaches.
A video released by the White House and shared by others across social media Thursday shows 20 people gathered around Trump, who is seated behind the Resolute Desk. Not all those in the prayer circle can be identified but the group includes Cain; Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church of Dallas; Ralph Reed of Faith and Freedom Coalition; and Gary Bauer of Family Research Council.
Tom Mullins of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., led the spoken prayer. He is founding pastor of Christ Fellowship, a multi‐site church of 30,000 people meeting on 15 campuses around South Florida.
Praying to God on behalf of Trump, Mullins said: “I pray for your grace and your protection over him. I pray for your grace and your protection over our troops and all of our men and women serving in our armed forces. And father we just pray you continue to give our president the strength that he needs to lead our nation as we come back to one nation under God.”
Nate Schatzline, a member of the Texas House of Representatives and leader at Mercy Culture Church in Fort Worth, Texas, also was among those present. He posted on X: “What an honor to pray over President @realdonaldtrump in the Oval Office today as faith leaders from across America commit to mobilize the Church to bring Revival & Reformation to America! President Trump has done more for the faith community, for the unborn, for the next generation, & for religious liberty than any other President in U.S. history! We stand with you President Trump!”
He also thanked White “for faithfully leading the White House Faith Office and fighting for religious liberty every day!”
Ralph Reed of Faith and Freedom Coalition portrayed the prayer session as also asking God’s support for U.S. troops in their attacks on Iran: “I am grateful to President Trump for his courageous decision to strike the terrorist regime in Iran. I am honored to pray for him & our armed forces at the White House. May God grant victory & freedom for the Iranian people.”
Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, also was present. He wrote on X: “I had the privilege of joining a group of faith leaders in the Oval Office to pray with and over the president of the United States during a moment of significant responsibility for our nation and the world. … We prayed for wisdom, protection and God’s guidance as he leads during a consequential moment in global affairs.
“What made the moment especially meaningful was the context in which it occurred. As the president continues to serve as commander-in-chief during Operation Epic Fury, with U.S. forces targeting Iranian Regime infrastructure and missile capabilities, the Oval Office was opened for prayer. Even in the midst of global conflict and immense responsibility, we paused to seek God’s wisdom and covering. Leadership at the highest level requires humility, discernment and dependence upon God.
“We prayed for the president, for the United States, for our military personnel and for peace through strength in this critical hour. Moments like this serve as a powerful reminder that faith still has a place in the highest rooms of leadership and that prayer remains one of the most meaningful acts we can offer on behalf of our nation.”
The prayer service happened just hours after Trump fired Kristi Noem as secretary of Homeland Security and nominated Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma to replace her. According to multiple reports, the final straw for Noem was her recent testimony before a congressional committee that went badly awry.
Mullin is a devout Pentecostal who is loved by Trump’s evangelical base.