Growing international recognition for the City of David
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee introduced Guatemala in the City of David, stating, “Just as America has discovered our roots here, so has we discovered Guatemala.”
When you think about the foundation of the United States, places like Plymouth Rock, Valley Forge, and Independence Hall come to mind. However, the Founding Fathers drew inspiration from much farther afield.
In October 2020, the United States officially designated the City of David—historically significant as Biblical Jerusalem—as a cultural heritage site. It’s recognized not simply as Jewish or Israeli heritage, but distinctly as part of American heritage.
This raises an interesting question: why would the U.S. affirm a location that’s over 6,000 miles away as part of its national identity? And why, in 2025, did Argentina’s President Javier Millei follow suit, labeling the City of David a source of inspiration for the republic? Just last week, Guatemala marked a similar recognition as the third country to do so.
The answer might be something many Americans are in danger of overlooking.
The moral foundations of the United States are deeply tied to the Biblical heritage of Jerusalem—concepts like equality under the law and inherent human dignity. The right to speak out against power emerged not from Athens or Rome, but from Jerusalem.
Historically, rulers often sat above the law, unaccountable to anyone except themselves, leading to a society where few are deemed deserving of rights.
But, when King David faced the prophet Nathan’s challenge in Jerusalem, he didn’t eliminate Nathan for speaking truthfully. Instead, he took responsibility, recognized his moral failings, admitted guilt before God, and pledged to amend his ways.
Thomas Paine, in his revolutionary pamphlet “Common Sense,” acknowledged this principle too, pointing to the Book of Samuel and declaring that the law was paramount in America.
Centuries later, another young man named Jeremiah also challenged the corrupt powers of his time, ultimately suffering greatly for his efforts as he was imprisoned for his calls for justice.
This brings to mind the protection of speech and dissent—roots that can be traced back to Jerusalem rather than only to America’s landscape.
In Athens, Socrates lost his life for asking too many questions, whereas in Jerusalem, preserving truth became a sacred duty. Benjamin Franklin once proposed a motto for the Great Seal: “Rebellion to tyranny is obedience to God.”
Thomas Jefferson highlighted that all men are created equal and have unalienable rights granted not by the state but by the Creator.
The fundamental idea that each person holds intrinsic value because they’re made in God’s image began in Genesis, finding its first expression in a national context in Jerusalem.
The founding figures of America were well aware of these connections. Among the 15,000 political documents from that era, the Bible was the most frequently cited source, even more than Locke or Montesquieu. They clearly understood their inspirations.
These nations did not arrive at a unique respect for Israel and its people by chance; instead, they aligned themselves with Jerusalem’s narrative and the ideals rooted in that city.
As Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted in September 2025 while standing on the recently excavated pilgrimage road in the City of David, “The United States…was founded on the very strong principle that the rights of mankind come from the Creator. But that idea did not come from the sky. It was deeply rooted in ancient teachings.” He acknowledged that these teachings originated in the very place he stood.
As America approaches its 251st anniversary, it’s worth reflecting on the ideals that provide meaning and direction to our nation. The City of David, with its rich history, continues to offer guidance—its relevance enduring just as it did 3,000 years ago.
