Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) President Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called for stronger public ties between Pakistan and the United States at the National Prayer Breakfast, the host of US President Donald Trump on February 6, 2025, highlighting the overall power of faith.
In his address at the closing ceremony, Bilawal shared personal reflections on the role of faith in his life, especially in times of loss.
He talked about the devastating effect of losing his grandfather, former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, and his uncles, Shahnawaz and Mir Murtaza Bhutto. Bilawal also remembered the tragic attack on his mother, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, in 2007, just weeks before talking at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2008.
“Everyone has their own faithful journey, and for me, and for many people have faith to do with loss. The more you lose, the stronger your faith,” Bilawal explained.
The PPP chairman emphasized that religion should serve as a unifying strength rather than a source of division.
“Religion is often used to divide us. But the great thing about faith, about God, whether the Almighty, about religion, is that it is not a strength that shares us – it is a strength that unites us, ”he said, calling others to never let religion be used as a tool for separation.
Bilawal also affected the common faith in Jesus between Islam and Christianity and noted that “Jesus does not just belong to the Christians.” He explained how his mother taught him about Jesus, as depicted in both the Qur’an and the Bible, and how this shared faith in Jesus is fundamental to both faiths.
The event, which gathered influential figures from around the world, provided an opportunity for global leaders to unite their common values. Bilawal’s participation marked his first participation in the National Prayer Breakfast under President Trump, though he had previously participated under former presidents.
In his comments, Bilawal expressed gratitude for the invitation and said, “I am grateful for the breakfast of the national prayer, or rather the international prayer breakfast, to give us the chance to unite our shared faith in Jesus.”
While in Washington, Bilawal also met with members of Congress. He clarified that these meetings, as former Foreign Minister, were held in a personal trait.
The National Prayer Breakfast, which lasted almost seven hours, was an apartment for reflection and community that gathered individuals with different backgrounds united with their common faith and values.
In addition, President Donald Trump revealed a new initiative aimed at fighting anti-Christian bias across the United States. The message was published under the National Prayer Breakfast, with Trump highlighting the appointment of US legal lawyer Pam Bondi to lead the newly created task force.
Task Force, Trump explained, will focus on tackling “anti-Christian violence, vandalism and discrimination”, ensuring that the rights of Christians and religious believers are maintained across various sectors, including schools, jobs, government and public spaces.
“While I’m in the White House, we want to protect Christians in our schools, in our military, in our government, in our workplaces, hospitals and in our public squares,” Trump said. “We will bring our country back together as a nation under God.”
In addition, Trump announced plans to set up a new presidential commission for religious freedom that will further work to protect religious freedoms. To lead this initiative, Trump appointed Pastor Paula White, a well-known tvangelist and long-time religious adviser, to lead the new Faith office in the White House.
The National Prayer Breakfast is divided into two events since 2023 due to a dispute between legislators and the event organizers. Trump participated in both the main event in Washington Hilton and a smaller collection at Capitol Hill, where he also spoke with legislators. “I really think you can’t be happy without religion without that faith,” Trump said during his remarks. “Let’s bring back religion, let us bring God back into our lives.”
