Former President Trump slammed President Biden for his ‘appalling and insulting’ decision to ban children from submitting religious Easter egg designs while announcing he’d also recognize Transgender Day of Visibility on Easter Sunday.
Biden sparked widespread backlash after making the tradition-busting moves, with his expected 2024 election opponent leading the outrage.
‘Sadly, these are just two more examples of the Biden Administration’s years-long assault on the Christian faith,’ Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said in a statement on Saturday.
‘We call on Joe Biden’s failing campaign and White House to issue an apology to the millions of Catholics and Christians across America who believe tomorrow is for one celebration only – the resurrection of Jesus Christ.’
Former President Donald Trump delivers remarks from the Truman Balcony ahead of the 139th Easter Egg Roll event at the White House in 2017
Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a scathing rebuke of Biden’s Easter plans, branding them ‘appalling and insulting’ to Christians
The White House has sparked outrage by banning children from submitting Easter Egg designs for this year’s Easter Egg Roll with any ‘questionable content,’ including political statements and religious imagery
The White House drew controversy to this year’s Easter plans on Friday, as Biden declared that his administration will celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility on its usual date of March 31, which this year also happens to be Easter Sunday.
Biden, a devout Catholic, also used took the opportunity to deliver a scathing attack on Republicans as he made the proclamation, while stressing that ‘transgender Americans are part of the fabric of our nation.’
‘But extremists are proposing hundreds of hateful laws that target and terrify transgender kids and their families — silencing teachers; banning books; and even threatening parents, doctors, and nurses with prison for helping parents get care for their children,’ he said in a press release.
‘At the same time, an epidemic of violence against transgender women and girls, especially women and girls of color, continues to take too many lives. Let me be clear: All of these attacks are un-American and must end.
‘Today, we send a message to all transgender Americans: You are loved. You are heard. You are understood. You belong. You are America, and my entire Administration and I have your back.’
Trump was not alone in his wrath, as the move quickly brought widespread anger among conservatives.
Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was among the first to wade into the controversy, as he mused ‘I wonder how (Biden) came up with that date’ by having Easter Sunday clash with the transgender tribute day.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson slammed Biden for ‘betraying the central tenet of Easter’, and said the ‘American people are taking note’ of the ‘outrageous and abhorrent’ tradition-busting moves.
Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton also felt that Biden’s ‘open disdain for Christians is not an accident.’ Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville also branded Democrats ‘a Satanic cult’ in response.
Republican Senate candidate Jim Banks called it an ‘absolute disgrace’, adding: ‘What a slap in the face to hundreds of millions of Christians in America and across the globe. Voters won’t forget this in November.’
Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said: ‘There is no length Biden and the Democrats won’t go to mock your faith, and to thumb his nose at God.
‘We know that Christ is King and God will not be mocked, just like we know Joe Biden isn’t really the one calling the shots in the White House.’
Children take part in the 2023 White House Easter Egg Roll event, which has been held on the South Lawn for almost 50 years
An egg designed by children of members of the military adorning the East Colonnade of the White House ahead of the White House Easter Egg Roll, Thursday, March 28, 2024
President Biden sparked backlash by declaring Easter Sunday to be a national ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’, with critics feeling he is blatantly overlooking the religious holiday
It comes as the White House drew controversy before the Easter Egg Roll tradition, which is set to be held on Monday in an event that dates back to 1877.
The White House doubled up backlash as it also banned religious imagery in submissions from children of military families taking part in the traditional Easter Egg Roll event, as critics branded the moves an ‘attack on Christianity.’
Part of this year’s Easter Egg Roll tradition is centering on ‘Celebrating our Military Families’, and will include submissions of festively designed eggs painted by children of National Guard troops.
However, the National Guard families taking part in the traditional Easter Egg Roll event won’t see their submissions counted if they include any ‘questionable content,’ including ‘religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements.’
Children will also be banned from designing their eggs with anything that promotes ‘bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age.’
The rule against overtly religious imagery has long been in place, a White House spokesperson said. They also stressed that Biden had the greatest respect for Easter and its meaning to Christians like himself.