President Donald Trump issued his Thanksgiving Day proclamation by centering the nation’s founding traditions and offering what he called America’s “endless gratitude to Almighty God.” The proclamation drew heavily on historical precedent, invoking the language of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln to frame gratitude as a civic and spiritual cornerstone of the country.
Trump began by recalling Washington’s 1789 declaration establishing a National Day of Thanksgiving. Washington described it as “the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.” Trump also referenced Lincoln’s Civil War-era call for “a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”
The proclamation stated that this longstanding tradition of reverence and gratitude “has preserved our way of life and made America the strongest, greatest, and most resilient Nation the world has ever known.”
Trump Emphasizes Faith, American History, and National Renewal
Trump framed Thanksgiving as part of a continuous story stretching back more than four centuries, writing that the “spirit of gratitude and grit” shown by pilgrims, patriots, pioneers, and soldiers lies “at the very heart of what it means to be an American.”
He credited God with “abundant blessings” across the nation and highlighted national progress under his administration. According to the proclamation, “the American economy is roaring back,” the cost of living is improving, a “new era of peace” is emerging globally, U.S. sovereignty is being restored, and “the American spirit is coming back greater and more powerful than ever before.”
Looking toward the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence, Trump called on Americans to summon “the faith, resolve, and unflinching fortitude” of the nation’s historical figures. “Above all,” the proclamation concluded, “we offer our endless gratitude to Almighty God for His love, grace, and infinite blessings.”
Proclamation Follows D.C. Shooting That Left Two Guardsmen Critical
Trump’s Thanksgiving message came less than a day after a violent attack near the White House in which, according to authorities, Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal shot National Guardsmen Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe. Beckstrom has reportedly succumbed to her injuries. Trump said Lakanwal was “severely wounded” as well.
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