The White House will observe Easter week as a Holy Week with scheduled events to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Jennifer Korn, faith director of the White House Faith Office, spoke to Fox News Digital about the week’s plans.
“The newly created White House Faith Office is grateful to share that President Trump will honor and celebrate Holy Week and Easter with the observance it deserves,” Korn said. “Throughout the week, we will distribute a Holy Week proclamation, a special presidential video message (and) host a pre-Easter dinner and White House staff Easter service.”
Korn called the week “a special time of prayer and worship at the White House to be shared with Americans celebrating the week leading up to Resurrection Sunday.”
President Donald Trump released a White House message on Palm Sunday, where he acknowledged “that the glory of Easter Sunday cannot come without the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross.”
His message reminds Americans of the suffering Christ endured in our place.
“In His final hours on Earth, Christ willingly endured excruciating pain, torture, and execution on the cross out of a deep and abiding love for all His creation,” Trump said. “Through His suffering, we have redemption. Through His death, we are forgiven of our sins. Through His Resurrection, we have hope of eternal life. On Easter morning, the stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty, and light prevails over darkness—signaling that death does not have the final word.”
The message stated that his administration “renews its promise to defend the Christian faith.”
The Holy Week video is expected to be released today.
The Faith Office has planned a Wednesday evening Easter dinner to which Christian pastors have been invited. The Marine Corps Band will perform hymns, along with Charles Billingsley, a Christian singer. President Trump is expected to pray and give remarks.
Christian leaders, including Franklin Graham and Pastor Greg Laurie, will attend a Holy Thursday staff worship service at the White House, where they will help lead a time of communion, Scripture reading and prayer and worship music led by Liberty University students.
Trump’s message calling Easter week a “time of reflection for Christians to memorialize Jesus’ crucifixion—and to prepare their hearts, minds, and souls for His miraculous Resurrection from the dead,” is a departure from last year’s White House focus. Former President Joe Biden drew scorn after he sought to designate 2024’s Easter Sunday as a day to celebrate transgenderism.
Franklin Graham posted on X, “What a contrast to Easter last year at the White House when President Biden declared the most holy day of the year on the Christian calendar ‘Transgender Day of Visibility.’”
Trump’s Easter statement closed with a theme of prayer and God’s blessing.
“We pray that America will remain a beacon of faith, hope, and freedom for the entire world,” Trump said. “May God bless you and your family during this special time of year and may He continue to bless the United States of America.”
