Prayers at United States presidential inaugurations

Since 1937, the United States presidential inauguration has included one or more prayers given by members of the clergy. Since 1933 an associated prayer service either public or private attended by the president-elect has often taken place on the morning of the day. At times a major public or broadcast prayer service takes place after the main ceremony most recently on the next day.
January 20, 1937 inaugural of Franklin D. Roosevelt
January 20, 1941 inaugural of Franklin D. Roosevelt
January 20, 1945 inaugural of Franklin D. Roosevelt
January 20, 1949 inaugural of Harry S. Truman
January 20, 1953 inaugural of Dwight D. Eisenhower
January 21, 1957 inaugural of Dwight D. Eisenhower
January 20, 1961 inaugural of John F. Kennedy
January 20, 1965 inaugural of Lyndon B. Johnson
January 20, 1969 inaugural of Richard Nixon
January 20, 1973 inaugural of Richard M. Nixon
January 20, 1977 inaugural of Jimmy Carter
January 20, 1981 inaugural of Ronald Reagan
January 21, 1985 inaugural of Ronald Reagan
January 20, 1989 inaugural of George H. W. Bush
January 20, 1993 inaugural of Bill Clinton
January 20, 1997 inaugural of Bill Clinton
January 20, 2001 inaugural of George W. Bush
January 20, 2005 inaugural of George W. Bush
January 20, 2009 inaugural of Barack Obama
January 21, 2013 inaugural of Barack Obama
January 20, 2017 inauguration of Donald Trump
January 20, 2021 inauguration of Joseph R. Biden Jr.
January 20, 2025 inauguration of Donald Trump
Presidents since 1933 have often worshipped privately before the inauguration ceremony.
In 1789 George Washington along with Congress attended a service at St. Paul's Chapel in New York City after his swearing in. The ceremony was presided over by Bishop Samuel Provoost. No similar service is known until 1933.
Sunday, March 5, 1933 "National Inaugural Prayer Service" at Washington National Cathedral. Presided over by Episcopal Bishop James Edward Freeman of Washington.
Thursday, January 20, 1977 Jimmy Carter ordered a half-hour interfaith prayer service at the Lincoln Memorial in the morning (8am) before the inauguration ceremony; he did not attend. Speakers included
1981 Ronald Reagan had a service at National City Christian Church on Thomas Circle, Washington, D.C., but he did not attend.
Sunday, January 20, 1985 Ronald Reagan had a public service at the Washington National Cathedral. Speakers included
Sunday, January 22, 1989 George H. W. Bush attended a Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral the day after his swearing in.
Sermons were given by
Other participants included
Sunday, January 21, 2001 – George W. Bush had a prayer service at the National Cathedral.
Friday, January 21, 2005 – George W. Bush had a service at the National Cathedral the day after the inauguration. Speakers included:
Wednesday, January 21, 2009 – Barack Obama had a service at 10am in the National Cathedral.
Scripture readings by
Responsive prayers by
Tuesday, January 22, 2013 – An interfaith National Prayer Service at 10:30 am in the National Cathedral was attended by President Obama, Vice President Biden and their spouses.
Saturday, January 21, 2017 – An interfaith National Prayer Service in Washington National Cathedral was attended by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and their spouses.
Thursday, January 21, 2021 – Virtual Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service hosted by Washington National Cathedral at 10 a.m.
The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II co-chair, Poor People's Campaign, preached. Other participants included:
Tuesday, January 21, 2025 – An interfaith Service of Prayer for the Nation in Washington National Cathedral was attended by President Trump, Vice President Vance, and their families.