On March 5th local time, U.S. President Trump invited several pastors to the Oval Office at the White House to pray for himself as well as for the American soldiers who were about to take part in military action against Iran.
Footage from the scene shows several pastors gathered around Trump, placing their hands on each other's shoulders and closing their eyes in prayer. The prayers mainly sought "grace and protection" for soldiers on the front lines, asking that they receive wisdom and blessing from God during the operation.
This moment spread on social media and sparked much discussion among netizens.
One netizen joked: "Wow, I thought this was an AI Photoshop; it wasn't until I saw the video that I realized it was real."
Someone else quipped: "Is this a prayer for the missiles to be more accurate?"
The footage quickly went viral online, with many surprised by the rare scene. Some questioned whether the religious ceremony was being overly politicized.