‘Devoutly Catholic’ Joe Biden Snubs God In Thanksgiving Address

In a striking departure from the tradition set by previous American presidents, President Joe Biden’s most recent Thanksgiving proclamation failed to mention Almighty God or Divine Providence. His is in notable contrast to previous presidents who have long acknowledged God as the source of national blessings and the spiritual tone of the holiday’s origins. Biden’s proclamation, while expressing gratitude to the American people and recognizing various groups for their service, notably left out any reference to God, in continuation of a trend set by his previous administration, spearheaded by Barack Obama.

The tradition of a national day of thanksgiving dates back to President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation, when he established Thanksgiving as an official holiday. Even amid the ravages of the Civil War, Lincoln recognized God’s grace, urging Americans to set apart the last Thursday of November as a day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” In his proclamation, Lincoln celebrated the nation’s material blessings and acknowledged that these gifts were the result of Divine Providence, recognizing that “no human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things.”

Lincoln famously warned that these bounties “are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come,” urging Americans to offer thanks for the “gracious gifts of the Most High God,” even in the midst of national turmoil. His words reflect the deeply religious underpinnings of the Thanksgiving holiday, a sentiment that was expressed by many of his successors.

President Ronald Reagan, for example, wrote in his Thanksgiving proclamations that “we thank Almighty God for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us.” Both George H. W. Bush and his son, George W. Bush, likewise included references to God in their proclamations. Bill Clinton, while more secular in tone, still acknowledged God in his annual statements of gratitude. Donald Trump also carried on the tradition, frequently speaking of the country’s blessings as gifts from God and thanking Him for the nation’s prosperity, freedom, and strength.

In Biden’s case, the omission may reflect a shift toward a more secular or pluralistic view of the nation’s identity. Biden famously declared Easter Sunday as “Transgender Day of Visibility” while never acknowledging the sacred Christian celebration. As the U.S. becomes increasingly diverse and moves away from its Christian heritage, some critics argue that public expressions of faith in government proclamations may be seen as divisive or exclusionary. But others argue that Christianity is inextricable to the American identity, and that to ignore or downplay the country’s religious roots disrespects the nation’s history as well as its Christian majority. Many Americans are disturbed by the erasure of religious language from official statements, particularly on a holiday like Thanksgiving, which has traditionally been rooted in prayer and gratitude to God.

Many conservative and religious commentators have voiced their disappointment with Biden’s omission, pointing out that Thanksgiving, in its original form, was a day meant to honor God as the source of the nation’s blessings. “It is not just about being thankful for the good things we have; it is about recognizing that those gifts come from a higher power,” one commentator wrote. “To exclude God from a holiday rooted in His grace is to lose sight of what Thanksgiving was meant to be.”