4 highlights from Rededicate 250: 'We pray mercy upon our land'

By Jon Brown, Christian Post Reporter Monday, May 18, 2026

2. Vice President JD Vance: 'That should give us all hope'

Both President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance offered recorded video messages for the event. Trump's video was a replay of him reading 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 from the Resolute Desk, which was first recorded for the Bible-reading marathon last month at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.

The passage Trump read recounts the Lord appearing to King Solomon in a dream following his dedication of the first temple in Jerusalem, during which God promised national blessing for obedience and warned of national calamity for disobedience.

Vance observed in his remarks that Christianity has been inextricable with America since its founding, tracing its religious heritage and reliance upon God from Plymouth Colony Gov. William Bradford's first Thanksgiving proclamation in 1623 through the Founding Fathers, the Civil War and the present day.

"In times of suffering and in times of triumph, millions of Americans continue to turn to prayer and their faith in God," he said, but went on to warn of the ruinous consequences if that spiritual foundation erodes.

Vice President JD Vance delivers remarks at Rededicate 250 on the National Mall:

"George Washington declared in 1789 that it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His… pic.twitter.com/HoacY3tqQQ

— Freedom 250 (@Freedom250) May 17, 2026

"John Adams famously said that our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. 'It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.' It was obvious to the Founders that our faith was the ground upon which America stands. It was our very foundation as a people, and if this foundation were to crumble, so too would the very values that make us Americans."

Citing an observation from his "dear friend," the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, that "all law reflects a morality," Vance said, "Neither law nor morality appears in a vacuum, but ultimately come from religion, and the morality and religion that formed the American consciousness were decidedly Christian, founded upon the principles and the divinity of Jesus Christ."

Noting that George Washington proclaimed in 1783 that "imitation of divine charity is necessary for the mutual affection of our citizenry and the happiness of our nation," Vance warned that exhibiting such charity is the fruit of understanding and accepting God's love. He expressed optimism that young Americans are increasingly showing a spiritual hunger.

"If we do not see that God loves us, we have little reason and little inspiration to love one another. This love, which forms our morality, is the foundation of a peaceful and healthful society. That's why it's so encouraging to see a renewed sense of faith emerging among America's young people," he said.

"Defying predictions, the experts said that religion and faith were dying today. A wave of young Americans is returning to the pews, and we know that they're looking for meaning, for authority, for direction, and of course for closeness with God. That should give all of us hope for our future together as Americans."

"It certainly gives me hope as your vice president, because prayer is not merely something we do in times of crisis. It is a continual disposition of love toward God, and through that love toward one another, through our fellow citizens," he said.