The first cabinet meeting of President Trump's new administration was held in prayer on Wednesday, when Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner called on God to bless the nation. Turner was previously an associate pastor at Preston Wood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. Jack Graham was a senior pastor. During Trump's first term, Turner was executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.
On social media, Turner called it “a lifelong honor” and was able to hold a meeting in prayer. The prayer video has been viewed over a million times on X (formerly Twitter).
Turner quoted the Bible in a 60-second prayer. He asked God to give wisdom to the leader of the kingdom. He stood right behind Trump as he prayed.
“Father, I am grateful to be in front of you, this incredible privilege, Father, my father,” Turner prayed. “Thank you, God, for allowing us to see this day. The Bible says that your mercy is new every morning. And Father of God, we give you glory and honor. Thank you, God, President Trump, for appointing us. Father of God, thank you for anointing us to do this work. Father, we pray that you pray for the wisdom of the President and Vice President, God the Father, they will lead.
“Father, I pray here around the table and for all my colleagues in this room,” he prayed. “God, we pray that we will humble us before you and that you will lead us to lead us and lead us to lead us to lead us and serve us to lead us and serve us.
“Father, the Bible says that God is blessed to be the nation where God is Lord,” Turner prayed, as he concluded. “But Father, we praise you today. And thank you for giving us this opportunity to restore faith in this country in your rightful place and bless the people of America. And at our meeting, Lord God, we pray that you will glorify in our conversation. The name of Jesus, amen.”
Trump thanked Turner for his prayers.
“Scott Turner is a great young man,” Trump said. “He leads HUD and he intends to be extremely proud of us all.”
It was a lifelong honor to give the opening prayers at President Trump's first cabinet meeting.
thank you, @potusBecause I trust that I will lead @hudgov And it gave me the opportunity to lift up Americans all over the country.pic.twitter.com/bm5yyqeina
– Scott Turner (@secretaryturner) February 26, 2025
Photo credit: ©X/Scott Turner
Michael Foot For 20 years, I have covered the intersection of faith and news. His stories appear in the Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Leaf, Toronto Star, Knoxville News Sentinel.
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It was originally published on February 27th, 2025.
