President Donald Trump invoked Scripture and celebrated America’s Christian heritage Thursday evening during the annual National Christmas Tree lighting on the Ellipse, just steps from the White House.
Standing alongside First Lady Melania Trump, the president quoted from the Gospel of John, highlighting the spiritual meaning of the season.
“Tonight, this beautiful evergreen tree glows bright on the dark and cold winter night and reminds us of the words of the Gospel of John: ‘In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.’ Beautiful words,” Trump said.
He continued by emphasizing Christ’s transformative role in human history.
“With the birth of Jesus, human history turned from night to day,” Trump said. “His Word and His example call us to love one another, to serve one another, and to honor the sacred truth that every child is specially made in the image of God.”
Looking Ahead to America’s 250th Anniversary
Trump also noted that the nation is approaching its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, crediting the faith and service of Christians with sustaining the country since its founding.
“America has stood tall, in part because millions of our citizens have heeded that call,” he said. “The faith and service of Christians have been essential parts of America’s strength from the very, very beginning.”
The president added that “religion is coming back to the USA”, drawing cheers from the crowd.
A Message for Advent and Christmas
Trump used the Advent season to highlight the global celebration of Christ’s birth.
“During this holy season, Christians everywhere rejoice at the miracle in Bethlehem … when the Son of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, came down from heaven to be with us,” he said. “Full of grace and truth, he brought the gift of God’s love into the world and the promise of salvation for every person and every nation.”
After a countdown, the First Lady lit the towering Christmas tree to applause from thousands in attendance.
High-Profile Guests Attend Ceremony
The event drew a large roster of administration officials and public figures, according to the White House press pool. Attendees included:
- Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance, and their family
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and wife Jennifer Hegseth
- Attorney General Pam Bondi and guest John Wakefield
- Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and wife Kathryn Burgum
- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and wife Cheryl Hines
- Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and husband Abraham Williams
- Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler and husband Jeff Sprecher
Trump also noted that hockey legend Wayne Gretzky was in attendance.
Entertainment Lineup Features Major Artists
This year’s ceremony included musical performances from a wide range of artists, including the Beach Boys, Gabby Barrett, Jon Pardi, Alana Springsteen, Matthew West, Brett Young, and Warren Zeiders.
Trump closed the night with a familiar message: “Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year.”
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