Trump calls for famed Alcatraz prison to be reopened, expanded

President Donald Trump proclaimed while speaking for a National Day of Prayer event at the White House that his administration is bringing religion back to the United States.

"We're bringing back religion in our country, and we're bringing it back quickly and strongly. Because for America to be a great nation, we must always be one nation under God," Trump said.

At one point during his remarks, he brought up a number of people onto the platform, including Dr. Phil, who thanked him for bringing back religion.

"As we defend religious freedom in America, we're also standing up against religious persecution around the world," Trump added. "With us today, the parents of Edan Alexander, the last living American held hostage by Hamas."

Trump said he cannot imagine the pain of Alexander's parents.

"But we're all alongside of you. We stand by you, and we're going to do everything possible in a very short period of time. You know, as you know, things are heating up there. I've gotten a lot of hostages out," Trump said.

When prayers got underway, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., took to the podium and said a prayer. Other leaders from different faiths also said prayers at the podium.

After a worship song and rendition of "Amazing Grace," Trump signed an executive order to create a Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty, which he said during his remarks is "why we're here more than any other reason."

-ABC News' Michelle Stoddart and Hannah Demissie

Democratic Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Tim Kaine, with the backing of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, filed a resolution Thursday to require the State Department to publish a human rights report on the prison conditions in El Salvador where Americans are being held, including if any U.S. aid has been used to assist with the deportation efforts.

"If you think you can take steps like this without Congress challenging your executive overreach, you're wrong. We're going to challenge your overreach at every instance when we can," Kaine said.

Van Hollen then explained that the resolution would force a floor vote within 10 days of it being filed, and should it pass, would force the report without House passage.

"If no report is produced within 30 days, the law specifies that all security assistance to El Salvador will be cut off. If the report is produced, whether it's good, bad, a whitewash, insufficient, you know, a two pager, we then have a privileged motion that we can bring up to terminate security assistance," he said.

-ABC News' Lalee Ibssa

The Trump administration will not renew $1 billion in Biden-era grants aimed at boosting mental health services in schools, a Department of Education spokesperson confirmed to ABC News on Thursday.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Communications Madi Biedermann claimed in a statement that grant recipients "used the funding to implement race-based actions like recruiting quotas in ways that have nothing to do with mental health."

She did not provide more details.

The decision comes as the Trump administration takes action to eliminate DEI programs and alleged racial discrimination practices in schools.

However, multiple courts have partially blocked efforts to ensure schools certify compliance with the administration's demands.

-ABC News' Arthur Jones II

General Motors has cut its profit guidance and said that tariffs could cost up to $5 billion in a new shareholder letter. The company has not yet announced any price increases for consumers. Ford, another major U.S. automaker, has said it can't commit to not raising prices as a result of President Donald Trump's tariff policy.

"Is the administration open to doing more to give automakers relief?" ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce asked White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller at Thursday's briefing.

Miller did not directly respond to the question, instead saying U.S. automakers "have announced dramatic investments and expansions inside the United States. American auto plants are growing. They are expanding."

"But in the meantime, while manufacturing ramps up, American consumers may pay more. Do you agree?" Bruce asked Miller.

"They won't because, again, there's now a massive economic incentive for automobile producers to expand production in the United States and whatever they make here, there will be no tariffs," Miller said.