Several Trump administration officials and agencies recognized the birth of Jesus Christ in their Christmas messages, sparking criticism from those who support the principle of church-state separation.
Among those sharing Bible verses and referencing the celebration of “the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” were entities like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and officials such as Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
“Rejoice America, 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 to all,” 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 joy to you and our families.”
The Washington Post noted that these messages marked a significant departure from the more secular, Santa-themed style of Christmas communications traditionally associated with government bodies.
Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, emphasized that the U.S. Constitution’s commitment to keeping church and state separate has enabled a rich tapestry of religious diversity, including various Christian denominations, to thrive in the country.
While some critics took to social media to label the DHS’s Christmas message as “unconstitutional” and an inappropriate use of government resources, others defended the messages, expressing that this alignment with Christian values was precisely what they had voted for.
The Washington Post reported that the messages “sharply diverged 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 Laser, who serves as the president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, also stated that the U.S. Constitution’s “promise of church-state separation has allowed religious diversity — including different denominations of Christianity — to flourish in America”:
“Praise God!” exclaimed one supporter on social media, adding, “I vote for my government to promote the true religion.”
That drew criticism from advocates of a strict separation of church and state.
Those social media posts are “one more example of the Christian Nationalist rhetoric the Trump administration has disseminated since Day One in office,” Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said in a statement. “Our Constitution’s promise of church-state separation has allowed religious diversity — including different denominations of Christianity — to flourish in America.”
While several people took to social media to claim DHS’s Christmas post was “unconstitutional” and an “inappropriate use of official government channels,” others said this is what they had voted for.
“Pretty sure this post is unconstitutional,” one person 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 this,” Benny Johnson, the host of The Benny Show, wrote in a post.
