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 celebrated tenor Andrea Bocelli’s rendition of the hymn during the annual National Prayer Breakfast on Capitol Hill.
Following the Italian’s performance, Biden, 81, made a beeline to shake the singer’s hand while Johnson, 52, told Bocelli during his remarks that he “had the front row in tears.”
Biden and Johnson, who have recently clashed over immigration policy and military assistance for Ukraine, sat side-by-side in the front row and shook hands at the conclusion of the event.
In brief remarks, the president offered his prayers to the families of three US soldiers killed last weekend in Jordan, the people of Ukraine and the remaining hostages held in Gaza following the Oct. 7 terror attack against Israel by Hamas.
“We must not be enemies,” Biden said. “I’ve long believed we have to look at each other, even on our most challenging times, not as enemies but as fellow Americans.”
“My prayer, my hope is we continue to believe our best days are ahead of us as a nation,” the president added. “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 every year since 1953 and every president since Dwight D. Eisenhower has attended.
