On January 11, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) claimed in a Facebook post that newly elected US President Donald Trump had invited the party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman to attend the “National Prayer Breakfast.” The post further claimed that on January 10, invitations for the “National Prayer Breakfast” were issued on behalf of Trump to Tarique Rahman, BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, and Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, who also serves as the Chairperson of BNP’s Foreign Affairs Advisory Committee.

Additionally, citing BNP Chairperson’s Press Wing member Shayrul Kabir Khan, several Bangladeshi media outlets, including Daily Observer, RTV, and Risingbd reported the same claim.
Fact Check
According to the Rumor Scanner team’s investigation, the invitations to BNP leaders for the National Prayer Breakfast in the US did not come from Trump. Instead, the event is organized by a nonprofit organization named the “National Prayer Breakfast Foundation,” which has no connection to Trump or the US government. Therefore, the claim of invitations being sent on behalf of Trump is baseless.
Rumor Scanner contacted the US State Department to verify Trump’s involvement in the invitations. The State Department’s Press Office responded by advising Rumor Scanner to contact the event organizers for further clarification.
In this context, a report published on the website of the US-based news outlet Voice of America in January 2024 (link) stated that the event is organized by the nonprofit “National Prayer Breakfast Foundation.” Before 2023, it was managed by a religious group called the Fellowship Foundation.
According to Voice of America, every US president since Dwight Eisenhower in 1953 has participated in the annual Prayer Breakfast. Last year, outgoing President Joe Biden also attended the event.
Based on these sources, Rumor Scanner discovered the National Prayer Breakfast Foundation’s official website. Observing the website and analyzing its information revealed no connection between the US government and the event. The foundation’s current board members include no members of the current administration. The board comprises former senators, representatives, and professionals from various fields. However, the event usually has at least one senator or representative as an honorary co-chair. This year, the co-chairs are Senator Maggie Hassan and Senator Roger Marshall. The foundation regularly accepts donations (link). Rumor Scanner attempted to contact the foundation but received no response.
Rumor Scanner also reached out to the US Embassy in Bangladesh for clarification. Later, a media statement from the embassy was found, which stated:
“The United States does not organize, direct, or fund the IRF Conference or the National Prayer Breakfast.”
Therefore, it is evident that the US government has no direct role in organizing the National Prayer Breakfast.
Further investigation uncovered a Facebook reel posted on November 23, 2024, from an account named Jeremiah Carnell Washington, displaying an invitation letter for the event. The same images were found on another associated account.
Examining the invitation letter revealed it was dated October 14, 2024. It was addressed to a person named Pastor Washington, inviting him to the National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton on February 5-6. The letter mentioned that friends and leaders from over 140 countries would attend, along with members of Congress and the US President, though no specific President’s name was mentioned. Notably, the US Presidential election occurred on November 4 last year, resulting in Donald Trump’s victory. This letter was issued on October 14, prior to Trump’s election victory.
However, if similar letters were recently issued, mentioning Trump’s name would not be unusual. The discussed invitation letter bore four signatures: Representatives Ben Cline, Zach Wamp, Tom Suozzi, and Jim Slattery.

Rumor Scanner contacted Shayrul Kabir Khan, a member of BNP Chairperson’s Press Wing, regarding the claim. He clarified, “We did not say that the US President or the US government invited them. Someone misunderstood. Invitations were received for the National Prayer Breakfast event.”
Mr. Shayrul informed Rumor Scanner that the letter received by BNP contained the signatures of the same four individuals mentioned earlier.
Conclusion
The claim that former US President Donald Trump invited BNP leaders to the National Prayer Breakfast is misleading. The event is organized by the National Prayer Breakfast Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization, with no direct involvement from the US government or President Trump. Therefore, the assertion made in BNP’s statements and media reports citing Trump’s personal involvement is inaccurate and misleading.
Sources
- VOA: Biden to Attend Annual National Prayer Breakfast
- National Prayer Breakfast Foundation: Official Website
- BDNews24: US Government Not Involved in National Prayer Breakfast
- Rumor Scanner’s own investigation