Something felt off early at Thursday’s National Prayer Breakfast, even before the groans rippled through the ballroom. Speaking to a room filled with lawmakers and religious leaders, President Donald Trump shifted the tone of the usually bipartisan event by questioning how Christians could support the Democratic Party. The remarks briefly stalled the gathering, which has long been framed as a rare moment of political restraint in Washington.
According to Scripps News, Trump made the comments while addressing attendees at the Washington Hilton, where the annual breakfast has been held for decades. The event, founded in the 1950s, has traditionally avoided public partisan attacks, focusing instead on shared faith and civility across political divides.
“I don’t know how a person of faith can vote for a Democrat,” Trump said. “I really don’t.” As he continued, audible groans could be heard from parts of the audience. The president acknowledged the presence of Democrats in the room, adding, “I know we have some here today, and I don’t know why they’re here, because they certainly don’t give us their vote.”
Trump at the National Prayer Breakfast: “I don’t know how a person of faith can vote for a Democrat. I really don’t. *crowd groans* I know we have some here today. I don’t know why they’re here, because they certainly don’t give us their vote … they cheat.” pic.twitter.com/lIQDisyjK1
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 5, 2026
From there, Trump pivoted to familiar territory, raising claims about election integrity and voter identification laws. He argued that voter ID requirements enjoy overwhelming public support and accused Democratic leaders of blocking them for political reasons.
“It polls at 97%,” Trump said, referring to voter ID. “Even the Democrats, the people, the voters, are at 82% for voter ID, but the leaders don’t want to approve it.” He claimed Democratic officials would “strike” to prevent such laws from passing and alleged, without evidence, that election outcomes are manipulated as a result.
At one point, Trump described voting as a process that should require proof of identity, saying, “When you go to the polls, you show [who you are], that you live in the country.” He added, “They do something to win. You know what it is? They cheat.”
While I’m a firm believer in separation of church and state—the National Prayer breakfast has been a DC thing for 74-years. Applaud Rep. Jackson’s offering of earnest prayer — though watching Trump awkwardly behind him it felt at times like I was watching a public exorcism. https://t.co/GnA8611Qlq
— Allie Fontana 🪷🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@AllieFontana) February 5, 2026
Trump also revisited comments he made at last year’s breakfast, when he joked that he might not “make it to Heaven.” On Thursday, he clarified that the remarks were intended humorously and said media coverage had misinterpreted them.
“I was just having fun,” Trump said, referencing reports that suggested he was questioning the meaning of his life. “No, I was just having fun.” He added that he accepted the invitation to return this year because he “needs all the help” he can get.
Despite the partisan turn, Trump framed his presidency as beneficial to religious communities, telling the audience that “religion is back now, hotter than ever before.” He described himself as “not a perfect candidate” but said he had “done a hell of a lot of good for perfect people.”
🚨🚨BREAKING UPDATES 🚨
🇺🇸 Trump at prayer breakfast: Religion is coming back… so strong
President Trump spoke today at the National Prayer Breakfast.
He told the room that to be a great nation you need religion, faith, and God. Then he added: “Thankfully, as we gather… https://t.co/fLgMu8tCP8 pic.twitter.com/scrUHkpBhk
— Core (SatoshiPlus) #BTC, #ETH & #BNB Believers (@corechaincrypto) February 5, 2026
According to congressional data, a majority of House Democrats identify as Christian, a fact that underscores the tension created by Trump’s remarks in the room. The breakfast continued after Trump’s remarks, though the moment lingered as one of the more pointed departures from the event’s usual tone.
For an audience accustomed to prayers over politics, the groans marked a rare public rupture — brief, audible, and difficult to ignore.
