US President Donald Trump gathered evangelical Christian leaders from across the United States in the Oval Office to pray for American troops fighting Iran, just hours after demanding the Iranian regime’s unconditional surrender.
The prayer meeting at the White House came as the conflict between Washington and Tehran entered a critical stage. Surrounded by pastors and faith leaders, Mr Trump bowed his head while prayers were offered for the safety of US forces involved in military operations against Iranian targets.
The gathering, which has become a regular event during Trump’s presidency, brought together about 20 evangelical leaders who formed a prayer circle around the president inside the Oval Office. The meeting was organised by Paula White, who heads the White House Office on Faith and has long served as one of Trump’s closest religious advisers.
Among those present were Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Ralph Reed of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, and Gary Bauer from the Family Research Council.
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Leading the prayer was Tom Mullins, founding pastor of Christ Fellowship Church in Florida. Speaking on behalf of the group, Mullins prayed for protection over both the president and the US military.
“I pray for your grace and your protection over him,” Mullins said. “We pray for your protection over our troops and all of our men and women serving in our armed forces.”
Evangelical leaders said the prayers also asked for success in the war against Iran. Several participants later shared messages on social media praising the president’s decision to strike Iranian targets.
Reed said he was grateful for Trump’s “courageous decision to strike the terrorist regime in Iran” and said he was honoured to pray for the president and US armed forces during the conflict.
Another religious leader present, Samuel Rodriguez, said the prayer meeting took place during a moment of global tension as US forces continue operations against Iranian military infrastructure.
“We prayed for wisdom, protection and God’s guidance as he leads during a consequential moment in global affairs,” Rodriguez wrote after the meeting.
The Oval Office prayer session took place during a military campaign known as Operation Epic Fury, in which US forces are targeting Iranian missile systems and military infrastructure.
The gathering highlighted the strong relationship between Trump and evangelical Christians, a political alliance that has shaped American politics for nearly a decade.
Trump identifies himself as a Christian and was raised in the tradition of Presbyterianism, part of the wider faith of Christianity. As a child, he attended services at the First Presbyterian Church of Jamaica.
In recent years he has described himself as a non-denominational Christian, a broader term used by believers who do not follow a single Protestant denomination.
Evangelical Christians have been among Trump’s most loyal supporters, particularly during the 2016 United States presidential election and the 2020 United States presidential election.
Many faith leaders backed Trump because of his stance on issues including abortion, religious freedom laws, and the appointment of conservative judges.
However, Trump’s relationship with Christianity has also drawn criticism from some religious figures who question whether the president uses faith mainly for political support.
Despite that debate, the Oval Office prayer gathering demonstrated how central religion remains in Trump’s political message as he leads the United States through one of the most serious international conflicts of his presidency.
