Trump vows to ‘defend Christian faith’ in Holy Week message

The White House shared his Presidential Message on Holy Week, in which Trump said "This Holy Week, Melania and I join in prayer with Christians celebrating the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—the living Son of God who conquered death, freed us from sin, and unlocked the gates of Heaven for all of humanity."

"This Holy Week," the message read, "my Administration renews its promise to defend the Christian faith in our schools, military, workplaces, hospitals, and halls of government. We will never waver in safeguarding the right to religious liberty, upholding the dignity of life, and protecting God in our public square."

Under the previous administration, the FBI had targeted Catholics who attend Latin Mass as "extremists" and also went after parents who spoke out at school board meetings against explicit books in schools and gender ideology lessons. Trump's State Department has determined to root out anti-Christian bias within the agency.

"This Holy Week," Trump said in a post, "Christians around the World remember the Crucifixtion of God's Only Begotten Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and on Easter Sunday, we celebrate His Glorious Resurection and proclaim, as Christians have done for nearly 2,000 years, 'HE IS RISEN!'"

The beginning of the calendar itself, in the year 0, is calculated based on the birth of Christ in Bethlehem. While academics have opted in recent decades to consider the time after Christ's birth as the "Common Era," but the original meaning was "Christian Era."

"Through the pain and sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross," Trump wrote, "we saw God’s boundless Love and Devotion to all Humanity and, in that moment of His Resurrection, History was forever changed with the Promise of Everlasting Life."

Former President Joe Biden, who was Catholic, took the opportunity of Easter 2024 to celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility, which overlapped on the calendar that year. "You are loved. You are heard. You are understood. You belong. You are America, and my entire Administration and I have your back," Biden had said.

"As we approach this Joyous Easter Sunday," Trump said in conclusion, "I want to wish Christians everywhere a Happy and very Blessed Holiday. America is a Nation of Believers. We need God, we want God and, with His help, we will make our Nation Stronger, Safer, Greater, more Prosperous, and more United than ever before. Thank you, and HAPPY EASTER!"