At the 74th National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, Rep. Jonathan Jackson, a Democrat from Illinois, delivered a prayer that many viewed as a pointed critique of former President Donald Trump’s response to the fatal federal shooting of two civilians in Minneapolis. The moment gained attention because Trump was standing just a few feet behind him during the prayer.
Jackson, the son of civil rights leader Jesse Jackson and godson of Martin Luther King Jr., asked for divine guidance to grant Trump "greater levels of compassion" and the ability to "do what is right." He also prayed for the president to be protected "from the iniquities of evil" and to be mindful of the suffering of Americans, including "the families preparing to bury their loved ones in Minneapolis."
"Today we pray for the future of this nation and that you would lead this president into greater levels of compassion for your namesake," Jackson said, emphasizing that the president has the power to either "turn mourning into dancing or reduce the country into a cosmic elegy of chaos and suffering." Observers noted Trump’s reactions during the prayer, including moments with his eyes closed and subtle eyebrow raises.
Jackson’s remarks come amid a series of controversial actions and statements from Trump in recent months. For example, discussions surrounding his response to international tensions and domestic crises have drawn widespread attention, including topics like potential conflicts in the Middle East (Trump Sends Chilling Threat to Iran) and the federal response to violent incidents domestically (Judge Comes Down Hard on Man Who Tried to Assassinate Trump). Other media coverage has highlighted his unusual public statements, ranging from critiques of Europe’s immigration policies to commentary on personal and political events (Trump Sparks Major Health Fears With Strange Behavior).
Jackson continued by asking that the president be attentive to the struggles of ordinary Americans: "Many people are not lazy, many people are simply tired. Many people simply are not okay." After completing his prayer, Jackson extended his hand to Trump, who briefly exchanged words with the congressman. While Trump appeared to praise the prayer, the sentiment of Jackson’s message seemed clear to many viewers.
The clip of Jackson’s prayer quickly went viral on social media. One X user wrote, "Rep. Jonathan Jackson just HUMILIATED Trump with him standing behind him at the prayer breakfast," and the video had already accumulated millions of views. Many commentators interpreted the prayer as a call for Trump to act with greater moral responsibility and empathy.
Some viewers speculated that the former president may not have fully grasped the underlying message. One comment noted, "The whole thing was an appeal to Trump to be better, which he probably missed," while another added, "He's falling asleep when he should be heeding the precious words of the prayer."
Jackson’s prayer followed Trump’s 77-minute address to members of Congress and faith leaders, during which the former president highlighted his record on religion, speculated on his chances of entering heaven, and criticized immigration policies in Europe. The contrast between Trump’s self-focused remarks and Jackson’s spiritually grounded appeal for compassion was widely noted. Other stories from recent weeks, such as Melania Trump’s public appearances and controversies over her film promotions (Melania Plugs Her Box Office Bomb), underscore the constant media scrutiny surrounding the Trump family and their political influence.
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