Trump's week in review: From funding freezes to Holy Week celebrations
4. White House holds Holy Week events
The White House hosted several events to celebrate the major Christian holiday of Easter during Holy Week. On Wednesday, Trump hosted an Easter dinner for White House staff. He delivered remarks at the event, which also included worship music and comments from Paula White, who serves as senior advisor to the White House Faith Office, as well as the Rev. Franklin Graham and Pastor Jentezen Franklin.
In his address to White House staffers, Trump proclaimed, “Nearly 2,000 years ago during this sacred week, the living son of God entered Jerusalem in triumph. Soon after, the savior of mankind who brought truth and light into the world was betrayed, arrested and tried, beaten and nailed to a cross and crucified.”
Trump included a quote from Graham’s late father, the Rev. Billy Graham, in his speech: “As the very great Rev. Billy Graham once said, ‘God proved His love on the cross. When Christ hung and bled and died, it was God saying to the world, ‘I love you.’”
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The president’s speech continued to touch upon the significance of Easter: “Three days later, Christ’s followers found the empty tomb. Jesus had defeated darkness and death and promised new life to all of humankind. And that’s what we celebrate each year at Easter as we joyfully proclaim on Sunday: ‘He is risen!’”
Trump characterized “the death and resurrection of Jesus” as “the essence of the Christian faith.”
He added, “Whether rich or poor, healthy or sick, young or old or in times of peace or war, Christians everywhere find solace and hope in the knowledge that Christ died for them and that they could be united with Him in Heaven.”
“The miracles of Holy Week set in motion a transformation in human existence. Countless millions of Americans have been moved by Christ’s example to heal the sick, defend their families, lift up their communities and make our country stronger, better and greater than ever before with God’s grace,” the president continued.
In addition to reflecting on the meaning of Easter, Trump’s speech highlighted actions his administration had taken such as the establishment of a White House Faith Office and an executive order declaring that “God created two genders” as evidence that “there’s so much to celebrate this Easter.”
“As we gather with family and friends, we’ll not forget the true source of our joy and our strength. America has put its trust in God. It will always be ‘In God We Trust.’ We will never change that,” he vowed as he mentioned efforts to replace the national motto.
Trump concluded his speech by proclaiming, “With God’s help, we can overcome every challenge, triumph over every evil and restore the spirit of faith in the United States for generations to come.”
In remarks given after Trump’s speech, Franklin brought up the assassination attempt against the president last July. “We’re so thankful God assigned an angel to stand between you and that bullet,” he said. The Trump administration’s celebration of Holy Week and Easter continued with a prayer service on Thursday, where White House staffers rose to their feet to sing “Amazing Grace.”
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
