Several agencies and Trump administration officials acknowledged the birth of Jesus Christ in several Christmas messages, drawing criticism from advocates of separation of church and state.
Agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and officials such as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard shared Bible verses and acknowledged that, as people celebrate Christmas, they were celebrating “the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
“Rejoice, America, Jesus Christ is born!” DHS wrote In a post on X, which also included a video with the song “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”.
“Merry Christmas Everyone,” Hegseth wrote In a post on X. “Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May his light bring peace, hope and happiness to you and our families.”
“Merry Christmas and Aloha from our family to yours,” Gabbard wrote In a post on X. “May we spend this day and every day remembering Jesus Christ and following his message to all of us: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39).”
“The joyous message of Christmas is the hope of eternal life through Jesus Christ,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. wrote In a post on X. “Wishing everyone a blessed holiday season filled with hope and peace.”
Washington Post The report said the messages “differ from the more secular, Santa Claus-and-reindeer style of Christmas messages that have been the norm for government agencies for years.”
People such as Rachel Ledger, who serves as president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, also said that the U.S. Constitution’s “promise of church-state separation has allowed religious diversity – including different denominations of Christianity – to flourish in America”:
These messages are a sharp contrast to the more secular, Santa Claus-and-reindeer style of Christmas messages that have been the norm for government agencies for years. The post provided the latest example of the administration’s efforts to promote the cultural views and language of Trump’s evangelical Christian base.
This was criticized by proponents of a strict separation of church and state.
Rachel Ledger, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said in a statement that those social media posts are “yet another example of the Christian nationalist rhetoric that the Trump administration has spread since its first day in office.” “Our Constitution’s promise of church-state separation has allowed religious diversity – including various denominations of Christianity – to flourish in America.”
While many people claimed on social media that DHS’s Christmas post was “unconstitutional” and an “improper use of official government channels,” others said that’s what they voted for.
“Pretty sure this post is unconstitutional,” one person said. Said,
“Inappropriate use of official government channels,” one person wrote,
“Praise God!” One person wrote. “I vote for my government to promote the true religion.”
“I voted for it,” host Benny Johnson benny show, wrote In one post.
