During President Donald Trump’s inauguration, which took place on the federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., a prayer was delivered that paid tribute to King’s impactful legacy. The invocation by Rev. Lorenzo Sewell, a pastor from Michigan, drew heavily from King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, along with references to the Declaration of Independence, patriotic songs, and gospel hymns.
In a passionate three-minute prayer on the holiday, Sewell expressed gratitude to God for Trump taking office and prayed for America to “begin to dream again.” His remarks echoed the essence of King’s 1963 speech, asking for freedom to “ring” across the nation and affirming the hope that Americans are “free at last.”
Rev. Sewell has been a significant supporter of Trump’s 2024 campaign, previously hosting him at his church and participating in both the Republican National Convention and pro-Trump rallies among faith leaders. He revealed that Trump personally requested him to pray during the inauguration.
“Heavenly father, we are so grateful that you gave our 45th and now our 47th president a millimeter miracle,” he said, referencing the assassination attempt on Trump in July.
Rev. Lorenzo Sewell, who has pastored the 180 Church in Detroit for seven years, converted to Christianity in 1999 after what he calls a divine revelation. Identifying with a charismatic and conservative Christian doctrine, Sewell integrates political opinions into his ministry, stating, “The gospel message is a political message,” and emphasizing the political nature of the Bible.
At a gala prior to the inauguration, he led prayers seeking divine protection for Trump, invoking angels to surround him and affirming that “no weapon formed against him shall prosper.” Following his invocation, Sewell announced a cryptocurrency launch aimed at funding his charitable initiatives, joining a trend among numerous right-wing leaders.
This inauguration marked the third occurrence of a presidential inauguration coinciding with Martin Luther King Day since it became a federal holiday nearly four decades ago, with previous instances during Bill Clinton’s and Barack Obama’s second inaugurations. Trump made references to King during his opening remarks, expressing gratitude to the Black and Hispanic communities for their support and voicing his commitment to make King’s dream a reality.
He stated intentions to dismantle government policies that enforce race and gender considerations in public life, aiming to build a “colorblind and merit-based” society. Civil rights leaders and Black faith leaders responded critically to Trump’s return to office, with many feeling that his agenda conflicted with the values King stood for. Rev. William Barber III emphasized that exercising power unjustly is never right, and vowed to uphold the principles that King fought for.
King’s family chose to commemorate the holiday with a day of service and prayer, yet confronted concerns about the implications of Trump’s inauguration being juxtaposed with the King holiday. Like many civil rights organizations, they adopted a cautious wait-and-see stance towards Trump’s administration. Dr. Bernice King pointed out the contrasting perceptions of the day—some celebrate it as a revival of promises while others see it as a regression.
The memorial proceedings took place in Ebenezer Baptist Church, once led by the late King, while Rev. Raphael Warnock, a senator from Georgia, was engaged in observing the inauguration in Washington. He remarked that despite King’s legacy being referenced, the overall agenda felt disconnected from the values Dr. King espoused.
Sewell’s benediction was met with enthusiasm from many GOP members and Trump supporters during a concurrent rally in the Capitol One Arena. However, it evoked discontent from some Black faith leaders and civil rights advocates who warned against co-opting King’s message for political gain. “Don’t let them hijack what Dr. King was about,” cautioned Rev. Al Sharpton, stressing the importance of honoring King’s commitment to economic justice alongside his legacy of freedom and equality.
