Several agencies and Trump administration officials have acknowledged the birth of Jesus Christ in several Christmas messages that have been criticized by people who advocate the separation of church and state.
Agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as well as officials such as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, shared Bible verses and acknowledged that when people celebrated Christmas, they were celebrating “the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
“Rejoice America, Christ is born!” Department of Homeland Security wrote in a post on X, which also included a video for the song “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
“Merry Christmas Everyone”, Hegseth wrote in a message on X. “Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. May His light bring peace, hope and joy to you and our families.”
“Merry Christmas and greetings from our family to yours,” Gabbard. wrote in the post on X. “May we spend this day and every day remembering Jesus Christ and following His message to us all: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. And the second is like this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39).”
“The joyful message of Christmas is the hope of Eternal Life through Christ,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio. wrote in a post on X. “Wishing everyone a blessed holiday filled with hope and peace.”
Washington Post reported that the messages “were in stark contrast to the more secular style of Christmas messages featuring Santa Claus and reindeer that had been the norm for government agencies for many years.”
People like Rachel Lazer, who is the president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, have also stated that “the U.S. Constitution's promise of separation of church and state has allowed religious diversity, including different denominations of Christianity, to flourish in America”:
The messages were a stark departure from the more secular, Santa Claus-and-reindeer style of Christmas messages that had been the norm for government agencies for many years. The posts were the latest example of the administration's efforts to promote the cultural views and languages of Trump's evangelical Christian base.
This drew criticism from supporters of a strict separation of church and state.
The social media posts are “another example of the Christian nationalist rhetoric that the Trump administration has promoted since its first day in office,” Rachel Lazear, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said in a statement. “Our Constitution’s promise of separation of church and state has allowed religious diversity, including different denominations of Christianity, to flourish in America.”
While several people on social media said the DHS Christmas post was “unconstitutional” and “an inappropriate use of official government channels,” others said that's what they voted for.
“I'm absolutely sure this post is unconstitutional,” one person said.
“Inappropriate use of official government channels”, one person wrote.
“God bless!” one person wrote. “I vote for my government to promote true religion.”
“I voted for it” – Benny Johnson, host Benny Show, wrote in the post.
