Faith Gets Space in The New World

Faith Gets Space in The New World

Deepak Razdan

3 May, 2025

US President Donald J Trump, on the 1st of May, 2025, proclaimed the day as a National Day of Prayer. The US Congress in 1988 by Public Law 100-307 called on the President to issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer.

Mr Trump said “I encourage all Americans to observe this day, reflecting on the blessings our Nation has received and the importance of prayer, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities in their houses of worship, communities, and places of work, schools, and homes.”

This was a significant proclamation by the Head of State and the Head of Government of a country which is at the centre of the New World that was launched by his inaugural speech on 20th January, 2025.

President Trump’s Administration is currently negotiating with over 70 countries bilateral trade deals that he said were needed to restore justice to the United States, after what major trading partners of the US had done to plunder and rip apart the US economy by following an unfair tariff system.

The whole world is praying now that the trade deals are finalised within the 3-month deadline by 9 July and save the rich and poor countries from the devastating effects of Mr Trump’s tariffs which go up to 145 per cent in the case of China.

The tariffs have already disrupted the world supply chains of essential material, shutting down manufacturing units across globe and laying off vast number of workers.

Unlike the Ukraine war which brought a crisis in the supply of a few raw materials, the US tariffs’ bombardment upended the whole world trade order, making stock markets behaviour difficult to fathom even for experts, after trillions of dollars were wiped out in a matter of days.  

The US talks for trade agreements are taking place in the wake of the 90-day pause that the President announced in the implementation of a special chart of tariffs that he unveiled on 2nd April to teach the world that its days of cheating and loot of the US economy are over.

Mr Trump had already imposed 25 per cent additional tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico and 10 per cent additional tariffs on imports from China for allowing the entry of the poisonous drug fentanyl into the US, endangering the health of its youth.  

The 2nd April announcement by the US President on “Regulating Imports with a Reciprocal Tariff to Rectify Trade Practices that Contribute to Large and Persistent Annual United States Goods Trade Deficits” brought forth shocking percentages of tariff for most other countries in the world.

The US Administration under Mr Trump had reasons for its tariffs war. The US had a 300 billion dollar trade deficit with China which imposed 67 per cent tariff on US goods. The European Union had 39 per cent tariff on US products, while India had 52 per cent tariff on US imports. Besides, Vietnam had 90 per cent and Cambodia 97 per cent tariff on imports from the US, among other countries.

The National Prayer Day came after the 100th Day celebrations of the US President’s Second Presidency on 29th April. After the Michigan rally to mark the celebrations, temperatures must have cooled down in Washington DC, and the world can expect a flexible US Administration to agree to some human trade deals.

The US efforts for a minerals deal with Ukraine have shown results and the agreement has been signed on 30th April, 2025.

The US had major problems with Canada. There were positive developments on this quarter too. Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada, re-elected to his position, spoke with Mr Trump on 29th April.

President Trump congratulated the Prime Minister and the two leaders agreed on the importance of their nations working together – as independent, sovereign nations – for their mutual betterment.

On 2nd May, Prime Minister Carney announced that he will travel to Washington, DC, on 5th May to meet the US President on 6th May. The Canadian Prime Minister’s office said “The meeting will focus on both the immediate trade pressures and the broader future economic and security relationship between the two sovereign nations.”

On 2nd May, Mr Carney also announced the upcoming Royal Visit to Canada. His announcement said “Their Majesties The King and Queen will visit Canada on May 26 and 27, 2025.”

“We will have the privilege of welcoming His Majesty King Charles III, who will deliver Canada’s Speech from the Throne on May 27. This will be the first time in nearly 50 years that Canada’s Monarch takes part in the State Opening of Parliament. This historic honour matches the weight of our times. Canada has a steadfast defender in our sovereign,” Mr Carney’s announcement said.

The Canadian Prime Minister has since spoken with Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and with United Nations Secretary-General  António Guterres also.

A series of positive developments have received support from President Trump’s faith in God expressed on last Thursday. He said “Nine months ago on July 13, 2024, my faith took on new meaning.  An assassin’s bullet came within a quarter of an inch of ending my life.  In that instant, as Secret Service crowded around and knocked me to the ground, I felt what seemed to be the supernatural hand of God.”

“I believe that God spared my life for a reason — to save our country and restore America to greatness.  It serves as a sacred reminder of our Creator’s infinite goodness, guidance, and grace,” he said.

“Across every chapter of our grand American story — from General George Washington’s humble prayer at Valley Forge to Reverend Billy Graham’s legendary rallies in the heart of Manhattan to the sombre National Prayer Service in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, our greatest leaders have always recognized the necessity of faith, prayer, and devotion to God,” he said. 

The Proclamation recalled that as President Washington famously stated in his seminal Farewell Address, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports.”

“This National Day of Prayer, we recognize that the true strength of the American spirit has always been found in churches, chapels, pews, parishes and synagogues, and the hearts and souls of our citizens of faith,” he said.

“Today and every day, we bow our heads in prayer to thank God for His countless gifts and to ask for His divine protection.  Above all, we acknowledge that prayer is the foundation of our past, the guiding hand of our present, and the light of our future,” the Proclamation said.

Describing how a good government will perform, Tamil poet and philosopher Tiru-Valluvar in his classic book Tirukkural about 2000 years ago wrote “The duties of the ruler are production of wealth, conservation of resources, defence of the State and right expenditure. In a good government these duties are well performed.” (translation by C Rajagopalachari)