Trump invites Americans to National Day of prayer event on May 17

US President Donald Trump has announced plans to invite Americans to gather for a large prayer event on the National Mall, saying that “religion is coming back” in the United States.

Speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump said faith was strengthening across the country and that places of worship were filling up again after a period of decline, which he linked to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that as part of the “America 250” celebrations, a National Day of Prayer gathering would be held on May 17, bringing together people of different faiths for a joint prayer event.

“I am pleased to announce that on May 17 we are inviting Americans from across the nation to gather on our National Mall for prayer and to express gratitude… We will re-bless America as one nation under God,” Trump said, adding that he believed a country could not be truly great without religion.

During his remarks, the President also said he believed he would likely go to heaven, noting that while he was not a perfect candidate, he had done “a lot of good things for great people.”