Add “Amazing Grace” to the rapidly dwindling list of things both political parties can agree on.
President Biden and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) were both moved to tears Thursday morning by Andrea Bocelli’s celebrated hymn singing during the annual National Prayer Breakfast on Capitol Hill.
Following the Italian’s performance, Biden, 81, was quick to shake the singer’s hand while Johnson, 52, told Bocelli during his speech that he was “crying in the front row.”
Biden and Johnson, who have recently clashed over immigration policy and military aid for Ukraine, sat side by side in the front row and shook hands at the close of the event.
President Joe Biden wiped away tears as he delivered the moving “Amazing Grace.” Getty Images Speaker Mike Johnson told Bocelli that he was “crying in the front row” during his speech. Getty Images Italian singer Andrea Bocelli performs hymns at the National Prayer Breakfast. Reuters
In a brief speech, the president prayed for the families of the three US soldiers killed last weekend in Jordan, the citizens of Ukraine and the remaining hostages held in Gaza following the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas.
“We cannot be enemies,” Biden said. “I have long believed that we need to see each other, even in our most challenging times, not as enemies but as fellow Americans.”
“My prayer, my hope is that we continue to believe that our best days will come from us as a nation,” added the president. “We continue to believe in honesty, decency, dignity and respect. We see each other not as enemies but as fellow human beings.”
The National Prayer Breakfast has been held annually since 1953 and every president since Dwight D. Eisenhower has attended.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
