Numerous agencies and Trump administration officials have acknowledged the birth of Jesus Christ in several Christmas messages, which have received criticism from people who advocate for separation of church and state.
Agencies like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and officials like Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard shared Bible verses and acknowledged that people, as they celebrated Christmas, were celebrating “the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
“Rejoice, America, Christ is born!” Ministry of Homeland Security books In a post on X, which also included a video with the song “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
“Merry Christmas everyone,” Hegseth said books 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.”
“Merry Christmas and Aloha from our family to yours,” Gabbard said books In a post on The second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).
“The joyful message of Christmas is the hope of eternal life through Christ,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio. books In a post on X. “Wishing everyone a blessed holiday season filled with hope and peace.”
the The Washington Post I mentioned The letters “deviated sharply from the more secular, Santa Claus-and-ring-of-Christmas-style letters that had been the norm for government agencies for years.”
As people like Rachel Laser, who serves as President and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, have stated, “the U.S. Constitution’s promise of separation of church and state has allowed religious diversity—including various Christian denominations—to flourish in America”:
The letters deviated sharply from the more secular style of Christmas letters, such as Santa Claus and his reindeer, that had been the norm for government agencies for years. The posts provided the latest example of the administration’s efforts to bolster the cultural views and languages of Trump’s evangelical Christian base.
This sparked criticism from advocates of strict separation of church and state.
These social media posts are “yet another example of the Christian nationalist rhetoric that the Trump administration has spread 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 separation of church and state has allowed religious diversity — including various Christian denominations — to flourish in America.”
While many people took to social media to claim that DHS’s Christmas post was “unconstitutional” and an “inappropriate use of official government channels,” others said that was what they voted for.
“This post is definitely unconstitutional,” one person said He said.
“Inappropriate use of official government channels,” one person books.
“Thank God!” one person wrote. “I vote for my government to promote true religion.”
“I voted for this,” said Penny Johnson, the show’s host Penny show, books In a job.