This year, the White House is focusing on Easter rather than transgender issues. President Trump’s White House Faith Office is orchestrating a series of Christian-centered Holy Week events. President Trump issued a Palm Sunday message reaffirming his commitment to defending Christian faith in schools, the military, workplaces, and government. Events are being coordinated through the newly established White House Faith Office, fulfilling a campaign promise to millions of Christians.
White House Returns Focus to Christian Traditions
The Trump administration is marking Holy Week with a comprehensive series of events emphasizing Christian traditions and religious liberty. Jennifer Korn of the White House Faith Office announced that President Trump will honor Holy Week and Easter “with the observance it deserves,” signaling a significant shift in White House holiday celebrations compared to previous administrations.
The week-long observance began with a presidential Easter proclamation on Palm Sunday, where Trump promised to defend the Christian faith. Additional events include a special Holy Week video message scheduled for Monday, a pre-Easter dinner on Wednesday featuring hymns and Christian opera, and culminating with a staff worship service on Holy Thursday that will include participation from notable religious figures and worship music from Liberty University.
Easter is the timeline
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: "The White House is gearing up for an 'extraordinary' celebration for Holy Week ahead of Easter, with President Donald Trump participating in a number of events to celebrate and honor the holiday 'with the observance it deserves.'… pic.twitter.com/HIqVyQJXJJ— TifaniesweTs (@TifaniesweTs) April 13, 2025
New Faith Office Coordinates Religious Initiatives
The extensive Holy Week programming represents one of the first major initiatives from the White House Faith Office, established earlier this year through an executive order. The office forms part of the Domestic Policy Council and aims to empower faith-based entities and houses of worship while promoting religious liberty protections throughout government institutions.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the significance of the new office, stating, “President Trump promised millions of Christians across the country that he would create a White House Faith Office, and he delivered on that promise.” The office is tasked with consulting faith community experts on policy changes, coordinating religious liberty training across agencies, and promoting grant opportunities for faith-based organizations.
White House plans 'extraordinary' Holy Week as Trump honors Easter with 'the observance it deserves' https://t.co/ZUGdRUFzJ8 #FoxNews
— Randy Spate (@RandySpate) April 13, 2025
Palm Sunday Message Sets Tone for Holy Week
President Trump’s Holy Week celebrations began with a Palm Sunday message that emphasized his administration’s commitment to Christian values. The message commemorated the beginning of Holy Week, which Christians observe as the time between Jesus’s entrance into Jerusalem and his crucifixion and resurrection. Trump highlighted the significance of this sacred period while reaffirming his administration’s priorities.
The presidential message emphasized Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection while calling for prayers for the nation to remain “a beacon of faith, hope, and freedom.” Trump specifically promised to defend the Christian faith in various sectors of American life, including schools, military installations, workplaces, hospitals, and government institutions—areas where religious conservatives have expressed concerns about diminishing religious expression.
Contrast with Previous Administration
The Trump administration has explicitly positioned its Holy Week celebrations as a contrast to the previous administration’s approach to religious observances. Officials highlighted last year’s controversy when the Biden White House marked Easter Sunday coinciding with Transgender Day of Visibility, which drew criticism from religious conservatives who viewed it as diminishing the importance of the Christian holy day.
“On Easter morning, the stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty, and light prevails over darkness—signaling that death does not have the final word.” President Trump
White House Press Secretary Leavitt had previously called for an apology from the Biden administration, stating, “We call on Joe Biden’s failing campaign and the White House to issue an apology to the millions of Catholics and Christians across America who believe tomorrow is for one celebration only—the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” This year’s extensive Holy Week programming appears designed to emphasize the administration’s commitment to traditional religious observances.