Critics have mocked aviral Trump Oval Office prayer videowith the phrase 'Praying Over P3dos?', drawing attention to Donald Trump's alleged connections to Jeffrey Epstein and accusations of sexual misconduct.
The video, filmed during a meeting on 18 March 2025, shows evangelical leaders laying hands on the president in prayer. As of 6 March 2026, the clip has gained new traction on social media, prompting fresh debates about faith and politics.
Over a dozen Christian leaders gathered in theOval Office on 18 March 2025to pray over President Trump. The session was led by Paula White-Cain, senior advisor to the White House Faith Office. Participants included Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Pastor Robert Jeffress, and David Barton.
Rodriguez prayed for Trump, saying 'With gratitude and humility, we pray for President Trump. You assigned him, you appointed him, you anointed him for such a time as this'. The group also discussed faith-based policies before the president joined. Rodriguez later described Trump as the most pro-faith president in his lifetime.
The meeting followed an executive order on 7 February 2025 to combat anti-Christian bias. Pictures from the event show several faith leaders placing their hands on Trump in prayer. Rodriguez noted that faith is 'more important than ever before' after the assassination attempt on Trump last summer.
The video has faced backlash, with critics questioning why doctrinally conservative men joined Paula White in the prayer. Some described her as a 'con artist cunningmillions of elderly out of their money'.
The mockery has extended toTrump's alleged Epstein connections, with critics accusing the administration of protecting paedophiles. Vice President JD Vance stated 'We're not shieldinganything' when asked about the Epstein files.
"We're not shielding anything." Vice President JD Vance was asked about the Epstein files Monday and took the opportunity to defend President Trump and his handling of the ongoing saga. "The president has been very clear," Vance said.
The phrase 'Praying Over P3dos?' seems to allude to 'pedos', short for paedophiles, amid ongoing allegations from Epstein documents.
Critics have called the event hypocritical, given Trump's past associations with the convicted sex offender. The controversy underlines the divide between Trump's faith initiatives and his personal legal battles. Hardly a surprise, given the polarised nature of US politics.
Source: International Business Times UK
