Washington, D.C. – March 6, 2026
President Donald Trump welcomed a group of pastors from various denominations and regions across the United States to the Oval Office on Thursday for a private prayer session, as shared in video footage that has since circulated widely online. The gathering occurred against the backdrop of heightened military tensions in the Middle East following the ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, now in their seventh day.
In the video—filmed from multiple angles by White House staff and later posted on official channels—President Trump is seated in his customary chair behind the Resolute Desk. Surrounding him in a semicircle are approximately 15–18 pastors, many wearing clerical collars or suits with visible cross lapel pins. The room was arranged with additional seating brought in to accommodate the group, and several participants held Bibles or notepads.
The session began with brief remarks from the president, who thanked the clergy for their presence and acknowledged the gravity of current national and international challenges. A senior pastor—identified in captions as Rev. Dr. Samuel Hargrove of a large non-denominational church in Texas—then led the group in prayer. The prayer included specific petitions for:
- Protection over U.S. military personnel deployed in the Middle East and those supporting operations from bases across the Gulf region
- Wisdom, strength, and divine guidance for President Trump as he leads the nation through the current crisis
- Peace and de-escalation in the Middle East, with particular mention of Israel, Iran, and neighboring countries affected by missile exchanges
- Comfort for families of fallen service members and civilians impacted by the violence
- Unity among Americans and wisdom for political and military leaders
The roughly eight-minute prayer was followed by a short moment of silent reflection before the president offered a closing “Amen” and thanked the group again. Trump was seen shaking hands with several pastors as the session concluded, and some participants were heard saying “God bless you, Mr. President” as they exited.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed the meeting in a brief written statement: “President Trump hosted faith leaders from across the country in the Oval Office for a time of prayer and reflection. The president values the spiritual support and counsel of religious leaders during challenging times for our nation and the world.”
The timing of the prayer session comes amid intense military developments. U.S. and Israeli forces have conducted sustained airstrikes and missile operations against Iranian targets since February 28, 2026, resulting in the confirmed death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the degradation of significant portions of Iran’s air defense and missile infrastructure. Iran has retaliated with multiple waves of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones targeting Israeli military sites and U.S. bases in Gulf Cooperation Council countries, including a deadly strike in Kuwait that killed six U.S. service members.
The most recent escalation occurred early Thursday when a U.S. Navy fast-attack submarine sank the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean with a single Mark 48 torpedo—the first combat torpedo sinking of an enemy surface vessel by a U.S. submarine since World War II. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attack as an “act of state terrorism” and vowed that the United States would “bitterly regret” the precedent.
The Oval Office prayer gathering is not the first time President Trump has convened religious leaders during moments of national or global crisis. In April 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, he participated in a virtual prayer call with approximately 700 pastors and faith leaders from across the country. During that 45-minute video conference, Trump requested prayers for frontline healthcare workers, scientists developing vaccines, and for national healing, while also thanking the clergy for their support.
Friday’s in-person session reflects the president’s long-standing practice of incorporating faith-based outreach into his public schedule, particularly during periods of heightened national security concern. Similar gatherings occurred in 2017–2020 following major policy announcements, natural disasters, and during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
No policy announcements or formal remarks on the Iran conflict were made during the prayer session itself. However, several pastors who attended later told reporters outside the White House that the president briefly referenced the need for “strength and clarity” in dealing with “very serious threats” facing the nation and its allies.
The White House has not released a full guest list, though video footage shows a diverse group representing evangelical, mainline Protestant, Catholic, and Pentecostal traditions. The meeting lasted approximately 35 minutes, after which the pastors were escorted from the West Wing.
As the U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran continues—with no immediate ceasefire in sight—the Oval Office prayer session underscores the intersection of faith, national leadership, and geopolitical crisis in the current administration.
