White House hosts mass prayer event framing US as Christian nation

Religion has long intersected with American political identity, but the country's founding documents are contested ground - supporters of Christian nationalism argue the republic was built on Christian principles, while courts have consistently interpreted the First Amendment as prohibiting government establishment of religion. The Trump administration has cultivated close ties with evangelical Christian communities, and several senior officials have publicly described faith as a guiding force in their approach to policy areas including immigration. Events linking White House figures to large religious gatherings have previously drawn scrutiny from civil liberties organizations concerned about the boundary between government and religious advocacy.