While reports of the Trump administration singing hymns during briefing delays might seem like a first, American history is actually full of “impromptu” religious moments in the West Wing.
The difference today is how public it has become.
Here’s how faith has shown up in other administrations:
• George W. Bush: His West Wing was famously “prayerful,” with staff-led Bible studies and meetings that almost always opened with prayer.
• Jimmy Carter: A devout “Sunday school” teacher, Carter used his faith as a “moral compass” for major peace talks, though he kept his personal worship more private.
• James A. Garfield: As the only president who was also an “ordained minister,” he was known for leading hymns and giving impromptu sermons long before he hit the Oval Office.
The big shift? Historically, faith was a private motivator for leaders like Lincoln or McKinley. Today, it’s very visible. Cabinet members are publicly sharing worship music now. Very different.
Whether it’s a prayer before a meeting or a hymn in the hallway, God has always had a seat at the table—but it’s far more visible now. It’s as if many are revisiting the idea, boldly declared in the declaration of independence and the founding of the US as an “experiment,” that God should be at the center.
Even with messy, needy humans. Maybe especially because of messy, needy humans.
