Donald Trump, JD Vance attend interfaith service at Washington National Cathedral with family

US President Donald Trump attended an interfaith service at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday (Jan 21) with his wife and the First Lady Melania Trump. US Vice President JD Vance and the Second Lady also attended the event. 

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Videos of the event surfaced online, showing all four people sitting together while Trump’s family, including his two sons and daughter-in-laws, were sitting in the row behind Trump. 

Trump’s second day in office began with a service at the Washington National Cathedral. pic.twitter.com/EUGcWduo3A

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The 47th president was seen sitting silently and was focused on his thoughts while Melania was sitting right beside him. Vance was seen talking to his wife in between the events. 

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The “Interfaith Service of Prayer for the Nation” came just 12 days after the church hosted the funeral ceremony for former US president Jimmy Carter. Trump attended the event, held on January 9. 

Trump and Vance at a prayer service in Washington National Cathedral with the National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/RsDRjAK8Gb

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The tradition of hosting a prayer service during the inauguration of the US President by the National Cathedral is as old as since 1933. It was held for the first time when Franklin Roosevelt entered the White House as US President. 

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However, the tradition paused for a few decades until Ronald Reagan’s second term in 1985. In 1997, President Bill Clinton moved the interfaith service to the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Downtown DC.

Former US President George W Bush attended the interfaith service back in 2001 at the National Cathedral where it has become a day-after Inauguration Day tradition. 

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During the inaugural ceremony of Joe Biden in 2020, the prayers were held online due to the global pandemic. 

(With inputs from agencies)