Editor’s note: This article was updated Sunday evening, April 19, with additional information from Mark Driscoll’s representatives.
First, Mark Driscoll sent an email to his supporters telling them excitedly that he had been invited to preach at the “main session” of President Donald Trump’s “Rededicate 250” event on the National Mall Sunday, May 17, and it would be “the biggest honor” of his ministry.
BNG published that news April 12, as did several other media outlets.
But now BNG has confirmed from multiple sources inside the White House that the inflammatory and hypermasculine preacher never was invited to the official May 17 event. Three people inside the White House have confirmed this.
“Sadly, he is spreading this rumor and we are asking him to stop,” one of those insiders said in an email.
When contacted by BNG, Driscoll’s spokesperson at RealFaith Ministries apologized for the confusion and said Driscoll actually had been invited to speak at an event Saturday, May 16.
Then the White House explained there is no official event on Saturday, May 16. There is, however, an independent event that day organized by Trump-supporting singer Sean Feucht. His “Roots of Revival” tour will take place on the National Mall without direct support from the White House. Driscoll now has been announced as a speaker for that event, along with Christian nationalists Eric Metaxas and Pastor Greg Locke of Nashville.
Related article:
Driscoll invited to speak at Trump’s rededication of America to God