Trump, Vance to Attend Traditional Prayer Service Ahead of Inauguration

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance will participate in a traditional prayer service at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Monday morning, marking the return of a 92-year-old Inauguration Day tradition. The service, led by Rev. Robert Fisher, will offer a moment of reflection before the day’s formal ceremonies begin.

The event, which has been a quiet and private fixture of presidential inaugurations since 1933, will exclude cameras and videos, maintaining its intimate nature. “This service is intentionally different from what the rest of the day is going to be,” Fisher said. “What we offer is a time that’s actually a meditative time, a reflective time.”

Fisher, the rector of St. John’s, has worked closely with the Trump team to design a service that balances brevity with solemnity. Drawing inspiration from the original services held for Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman, Fisher has selected readings, hymns, and prayers that emphasize the timeless nature of the presidency. “My intention this year is that the service should be actually timeless,” he said. “Not something that is just for 2025 or just for the individual that’s becoming inaugurated, but rather something that speaks to the role of the office and the importance of our citizenship.”

Trump will sit in the front row of the middle section, a departure from the usual presidential seating arrangement. Vice President-elect Vance and his family will occupy the right side of the front row. The church’s historical significance is underscored by its presidential pew, traditionally reserved for sitting presidents and once used by James Madison, the first president to attend services there.

Fisher emphasized the apolitical nature of the event, noting that the service is designed to provide incoming leaders with a moment to reflect on their responsibilities. “We hope that what we offer is going to be a way to give people a chance, those who are stepping into new roles of leadership, to reflect on what it means for them to give over their lives in service and to serve faithfully,” he said.

St. John’s Episcopal Church, located just steps from the White House, has long been a spiritual landmark for U.S. presidents. Its historical pews, including the one used by Abraham Lincoln in the back corner, serve as reminders of the nation’s enduring traditions. As Fisher prepares for the service, he aims to treat it like any other prayer service, despite its significance. “We hope that what we offer is going to be a way to give people a chance to reflect,” he said.