The White House is refuting claims made by President Joe Biden’s detractors regarding his recent announcement on Easter Day in support of transgender individuals.
The House speaker and others contended that Biden’s message for the Transgender Day of Visibility goes against Christianity, but a spokesman for the president refrained from commenting on that.
President Biden, a Christian who celebrates Easter with his family, “stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and rights of every American,” according to White House spokesman Andrew Bates in a statement to ABC News.
“Sadly, it’s unsurprising that politicians are seeking to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful, and dishonest rhetoric. Biden will never use his faith for political gain,” Bates added.
Biden, only the second Catholic president in history who regularly attends Mass, faced growing conservative backlash over a proclamation he issued on Friday honoring “transgender Americans’ remarkable courage and contributions” for the Transgender Day of Visibility, observed annually on March 31.
This year, Easter, which varies in timing, coincided with the same day.
Since taking office in 2021, Biden has designated March 31 as the Transgender Day of Visibility each year.
In a statement mentioning Easter, Biden said in part, “It reminds us of the power of hope and the promise of Christ’s Resurrection. As we gather with loved ones, we remember Jesus’ sacrifice. We pray for one another and cherish the gift of new opportunities.”
President Joe Biden speaks, as he announces a tentative deal with Intel for a big CHIPS and Science Act honor, during a visit to the Intel Ocotillo Campus, in Chandler, Ariz., March 20, 2024.Kevin Lamarque/Reuters, FILE
House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the Biden administration, saying it “has betrayed the fundamental principle of Easter, which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” in a post on X on Saturday.
Johnson continued, asserting that Biden’s “proclamation of Easter Sunday as ‘Transgender Day'” is “outrageous and appalling,” despite the fact that the president was marking an observance that has been recognized since 2009.
ABC News reached out to Johnson’s office for further comment but received no response.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a former 2024 Republican presidential candidate and entrepreneur, echoed Johnson’s criticism in his own social media posts.
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, another former Republican presidential candidate, also reached out to supporters, accompanied by a donation link, stating that Biden had “insulted Christians everywhere.”
The Trump campaign also joined the chorus of Republican critics, denouncing Biden’s proclamation as “blasphemous.”
“We demand an explanation from Joe Biden’s sluggish campaign and White House to the thousands of Christians and Catholics who hold the belief that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the only event that will occur tomorrow,” said Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement.
Trump has a history of politicizing religious events.
These claims are also being contested by Trump allies.
President Joe Biden speaks at the Washoe Democratic Party Office in Reno, Nev., on March 19, 2024.This incident is just another example of attempts to divide us, according to Atlanta reverend and Georgia senator Raphael Warnock, who appeared on CNN on Sunday.
Another area of criticism directed at Biden during this Easter holiday trip is an egg craft competition for the traditional Easter Egg Roll scheduled for Monday at the White House. Trump, Johnson, Scott, and Ramaswamy all asserted that the administration had banned religious representations during the competition.
The American Egg Board, which works to promote egg producers, has collaborated with the White House for the annual event around Easter for 47 years, including during the Trump presidency, a spokesperson told ABC News.
The event, established by Congress, must adhere to governmental guidelines, including one that prohibits religious endorsements, which they claim have been followed for years in their invitations.
A version of this year’s brochure soliciting submissions for the youth chicken art competition lists restrictions including the promotion of bias, illicit drugs and firearms, or “any questionable content, religious symbols, openly religious themes, or political statements.”
The American Egg Board has supported the White House Easter Egg Roll for over 45 years, according to a statement from the organization. The guidelines have also been adhered to in all administrations to support the board.
This report was compiled by Soo Rin Kim and Lalee Ibssa of ABC News.
