Faith Leaders Gather In The White House
Following a renewed promise to “defend the Christian faith” in a Palm Sunday-released presidential message, President Donald Trump and his newly established White House Faith Office is working to put the meaning of Easter front and center.
Gathering in the Blue Room of the White House on Wednesday, April 16, Trump was joined by the White House staff and members of his cabinet for an evening Easter prayer service and dinner.
After worship leader Charles Billingsley sang The Lord’s Prayer, the senior faith advisor at the White House Faith Office, Paula White-Cain, shared a message on the victory Jesus had over death.
“Before the joy of Sunday morning, there was the agony of Friday afternoon,” she said of Christ’s crucifixion.
Reciting John 15:13, which reads, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends,” she then stated, “That’s what Jesus did. Not out of obligation, but out of pure love. He took our place, and he bore our shame.”
White-Cain also noted there have been 1,000 faith leaders who have visited the White House in the time since the White House Faith Office was established, on Feb. 7.
Then, Rev. Franklin Graham, son of the late evangelist Rev. Billy Graham, was called upon to lead everyone at the dinner in prayer. Before starting his prayer, he turned to Trump and thanked him for the presidential message he released for Holy Week on Palm Sunday, April 13.
“There’s been a spiritual drought in this city the last few years, and in this house, so I’m very grateful for the Easter declaration you put out,” Franklin said.
Trump’s April 13 presidential message began with a statement of faith, sharing the essence of the Gospel:
“This Holy Week, Melania and I join in prayer with Christians celebrating the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—the living Son of God who conquered death, freed us from sin, and unlocked the gates of Heaven for all of humanity.”
Throughout Trump’s message, the divinity of Christ was proclaimed. Even a variation of the message, posted to Truth Social, evoked the words of John 3:16.
Trump Addresses The Prayer Service
Introduced by Franklin, Trump thanked the many “friends of great faith” who were in attendance. He also gave a nod to Franklin’s father, saying, “I went to Yankee Stadium with my father many years ago to watch [Billy Graham] … It was some crowd. I’ll never forget it!”
“Being with you here, in the middle of Holy Week, as we remember two of the most monumental events in all of history, the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” Trump said.
Speaking on the day the tomb was found empty, Trump continued, “Jesus had defeated darkness and death, and promised new life to all of humankind. That’s what we celebrate each year at Easter as we joyfully proclaim on Sunday, ‘He is risen!’”
He added, “Whether rich or poor, healthy or sick, young or old, or in times of peace or war, Christians everywhere find solace and hope in the knowledge that Christ died for them and that they could be united with Him in Heaven.”
“The miracles of Holy Week set in motion a transformation in human existence. Countless millions of Americans have been moved by Christ’s example to heal the sick, defend their families, lift up their communities, and make our country stronger, better, and greater than ever before.”
Still within the first 100 days of his second term, Trump attributed “God’s grace” to the success he said his administration has had over the past three months.
“We’ve achieved more than most administrations — they’ve been saying — do in four years or even eight years, just in a short period of time. I think there’s a whole new spirit in our country, and I think there’s a whole new respect for our country. Our country was not respect five months ago.”
Concluding his remarks, Trump wished all in attendance a “very joyful and blessed Easter,” and then took a moment to thank Christians and “people of faith” for their support before Pastor Jentezen Franklin, of Gainesville, Georgia, closed out the service.
The full White House Prayer Service can be watched here:
Other White House Easter Plans
“The White House Faith Office has put together an extraordinary weeklong celebration — currently underway — for Holy Week, ahead of Easter Sunday,” Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary, said at the April 15 press briefing.
In addition to Wednesday’s Easter prayer service and dinner in the Blue Room of the White House, Leavitt referred back to the Holy Week proclamation Trump issued on Palm Sunday.
She also said an Easter worship service would be held for the staff of the White House on Thursday, with worship led by students of Liberty University.
Concluding her remarks on the Easter festivities, Leavitt said, “The president and the first lady are honored to continue the tradition of the White House Easter Egg Roll.”
The Egg Roll will take place on the South Lawn of the White House on Monday, April 21. Hosted by the White House Historical Association, in conjunction with the National Park Service, the Egg Roll dates back to 1878, during the presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes.
A pre-taped Easter video message from Trump was expected on April 16, but it was not posted by presstime.
