During a stop at Machine Shed restaurant in Urbandale, Iowa, on January 27, 2026, ahead of a Des Moines-area speech kicking off his 2026 midterm campaign push, President Trump agreed to a patron’s request to pray with him.
The thoughtful prayer thanked God for Trump and sought wisdom, discernment, hope, peace, and protection, drawing “Amens” and applause. The beautiful moment, captured in video by aide Margo Martin, aligned with White House calls for national prayer ahead of the U.S. 250th anniversary.
The interaction began when the man asked, “Can I pray for you real quick?” The president answered, “Absolutely—come on!” Carrying on, the Trump supporter declared, “Alright. Lord God, we give you thanks for this President, Lord. Thank you for him. Thank you for your protection.”
Continuing, he entoned, “I just pray for continued wisdom, pray for discernment, pray for hope, pray for more peace, Lord. And just pray for protection against the world, the devil, the flesh, and all principalities, Lord. Than,k you Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray. ”
In a viral post to social media, Margo Martin, a presidential aide and the image’s original poster, emphasized the scene’s beauty. “Patron in Machine Shed restaurant in Iowa prays over President Trump 🙏🏼🇺🇸,” the caption to the popular post read.
Posting to the clip, one user stated, “🚨 INCREDIBLE MOMENT: Inside an Iowa Machine Shed, a diner approaches President Trump and asks if he can pray over him. Right there. In the middle of the room. They bow their heads and pray together. Faith. Humility. America. God is good. 🙏”
Watch the clip here:
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This moment aligns with an official White House prayer week. “As we prepare to celebrate two and a half centuries of freedom, I am inviting America’s great religious communities to pray for our nation and for our people. From the beginning, this has always been a country sustained and strengthened by prayer,” the president prayed.
Continuing his invocation, he added, “So important, if we bring religion back stronger, you’re going to see everything get better and better and better. You are going to see it get better and better. So, as we chart our course for the next 250 years, let us rededicate ourselves to one nation under God.”
As part of the same page, the White House stated, “As we celebrate 250 years of freedom, this is an opportunity to rededicate ourselves to the principles that gave birth to this land of liberty.” Additionally, the document quoted from famous presidents.
Quoting George Washington’s famous Farewell Address, the document read, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens.”
The page additionally noted, “What if one million Americans dedicated one hour a week to praying for our country and our people? The Invitation: Will you join with at least 10 people to meet each week for one hour to pray for America?”
Featured image from embedded video