On Wednesday, President Donald Trump held the first cabinet meeting of his second term. To start off the momentous occasion, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner delivered a prayer that’s got conversation buzzing: “Father, we thank You for this awesome privilege … to be in Your presence. We all thank You that You’ve allowed us to see this day. The Bible says that Your mercies are new every morning and … we give You the glory and the honor.
Thank you, God, for President Trump … [and] for anointing us to do this job. Father, we pray You will give the president [and] the vice president wisdom … as they lead. Father, I pray for all of my colleagues that are here around the table and in this room. Lord God, we pray that we would lead with a righteous clarity … as we serve the people of this country and every prospective agency, every job that we have.“Father, we would humble ourselves before You and we would lead in a manner that You called us to lead and to serve. Father, the Bible says, ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.’ … Father, we today honor You and in Your rightful place. Father, thank You for giving us this opportunity to restore faith in this country and be a blessing to the people of America. And Lord God, today in our meeting, we pray that You will be glorified in our conversation. In Jesus’s name, amen.”
Through this prayer, Turner extended a bold proclamation of God’s character and sovereignty in a room full of some of the most powerful people in our country. It did not go unnoticed. Directly following the prayer, President Trump paused, looked at Turner, and said, “Scott, that was a very good job you did.”
Additionally, a Fox News reporter highlighted that this may be the first time a cabinet meeting began with prayer. In an interview following the meeting, Turner told Fox, “It’s a great privilege to be called upon to pray for the cabinet, for our country, and for our president. And I take that very seriously.”
He went on to explain that “being a man of faith, a pastor, and a Christian, to be able to pray … and honor the Lord … was awesome. I look forward to the days ahead to continue to pray for the American people and also do great work.”
Fox also reported that Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins explained how the cabinet had started a Bible study.
One Fox anchor commented, “I think the whole country loves that, because [Trump’s administration is] putting God first. President Trump promised that when he ran. He wants to bring God back into our government.” And indeed, given the responses on X, it appears many did appreciate the prayer Turner gave.
“Do you know how refreshing it is to see this??” one user wrote. “We have a government who loves our country, we the people, AND most importantly JESUS!!!” Another posted, “God is bigger than every person in that room. And to see a room of powerful people, heads bowed to the grace of God, it brings tears to my eyes.
God is bigger than all that power, and when prayer is lifted up, He is present and presiding and HIS WILL BE DONE. Amen.” Others explained how “prayer needs to be the foundation prior to important decisions,” and that “leaders praying for wisdom and putting faith in Jesus is always the best way to start.”
Evidently, for a meeting that touched on several key issues, including both international and domestic goals, the prayer seemed to garner the most attention. While there was some opposition to the practice, many celebrated it and expressed a desire for more of it within the government.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins also chimed in. “Encouraging to watch President Trump begin his first cabinet meeting in prayer,” he wrote. “Let’s join in praying that God will give them wisdom and direction.” Additionally, FRC’s David Closson, director of the Center for Biblical Worldview, shared his thoughts with The Washington Stand.
“A month into President Trump’s second term,” Closson stated, “Americans witnessed something extraordinary yesterday in the first cabinet meeting. The important meeting started off with prayer, and in my view, Secretary Turner wonderfully set the stage for one of the most important meetings of the second Trump administration.”
“Simple and straightforward,” he added, “Secretary Turner acknowledged God’s authority and expressed a desire to be led by the Lord. Even President Trump seemed moved by the prayer.” Considering how influential the figures are that Turner prayed for and with, Closson emphasized that “Christians should be very encouraged” — both by the prayer and the fact “that godly men and women are in positions of authority.” And moving forward, he concluded, “we should pray that they will steward that authority for the good of the country.”
“Father, we thank You for this awesome privilege, Father, to be in Your presence,” Turner prayed. “God, thank You that You’ve allowed us to see this day. The Bible says that Your mercies are new every morning. And, Father God, we give You the glory and the honor. Thank You, God, for President Trump, Father, for appointing us. Father God, thank You for anointing us to do this job.