Trump and administration officials address Christian gathering on National Mall - BERITAJA

A personification worships to Christian euphony astatine Rededicate 250, a mostly blimpish Christian dream gathering successful grant of the United States' 250th anniversary, connected the National Mall connected Sunday. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Crowds of group gathered connected the National Mall connected Sunday for a conservative dream gathering arsenic portion of a commemoration of America's 250 birthday, which included praise and believe songs, prayers by belief leaders and speeches by members of the Trump administration.

The arena was promoted arsenic a gathering to "give acknowledgment for God's providence, bespeak connected our nation's story, and rededicate America arsenic One Nation nether God." It was organized by Freedom 250, a public-private group moving pinch the White House to shape the ceremony of America's 250 day this summer.

Of the 19 religion leaders that were scheduled to speak, 18 are Christian, and about are evangelical. White House religion agency elder advisor Paula White-Cain, the Rev. Franklin Graham and Bishop Robert Barron, who leads the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, were among the leaders. Rabbi Meir Soloveichik, who leads Congregation Shearith Israel successful New York City and serves connected Trump's Religious Liberty Commission, is the only non-Christian belief leader who said astatine the gathering.

President Trump, who was golfing connected Sunday afternoon, did not be the event. Trump delivered a video connection reference the Biblical scripture 2 Chronicles 7:11-22, which specifications God's consequence to King Solomon aft he completed the temple successful Jerusalem.

Trump management officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio besides said successful video messages.

Congressional lawmakers, including Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, besides said astatine the gathering. House Speaker Mike Johnson led the crowd done a prayer, asking God for courageousness and favour to "preserve this republic" and saying "our authorities do not deduce from the government, they travel from You, our Creator and heavenly Father."

Chris Tomlin, a Grammy-winning Christian musician, performed astatine the event.

The arena has been criticized arsenic promoting Christian nationalism and obscuring the lines separating religion and state. Interfaith Alliance, a nationalist conjugation of various faiths, connected Thursday nighttime projected messages supporting belief state onto the National Gallery of Art.

"Trump's 'Rededicate 250' rally connected the National Mall is an effort to move the United States into an authoritarian theocracy," the group wrote successful a societal media post.

Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said it is "less a 'Jubilee of Prayer' than a 'Jubilee of Christian Nationalism.'"

"If President Trump and his friends genuinely cared about America's bequest of belief freedom, they would beryllium celebrating church-state separation arsenic the unsocial American invention that has allowed belief diverseness to flourish successful our country," Laser said successful a statement. "Instead, they proceed to frighten this foundational rule by advancing a Christian Nationalist crusade to enforce 1 constrictive type of Christianity connected each Americans."

Kathryn Post and Yonat Shimron contributed to this report.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is simply a financial protagonist of BERITAJA.