President Trump declared the return of “Merry Christmas,” an open invitation for Americans to be bold and unafraid to share their Christian faith this Christmas season.
“We’re saying MERRY CHRISTMAS again!” the White House posted on X on December 1, alongside a picture of the smiling president beside a fully decorated Christmas tree in the Oval Office.
During his first campaign for president, then-candidate Trump would regularly assure crowds that “We’re going to be saying ‘Merry Christmas’ again.”
“You go into a department store. When was the last time you saw ‘Merry Christmas?’ You don’t see it anymore,” Trump contended during speech at Liberty University in January 2016. “They want to be politically correct. If I’m president, you will see ‘Merry Christmas’ in department stores, believe me, believe me.”
The president, known for speaking in generalities and hyperboles, certainly recognized a very real cultural phenomenon.
According to a 2022 report produced by the International Institute for Religious Freedom, Christians often engage in “various forms of self-censorship” in response to secular intolerance.
The report, focused on France, Germany, Columbia and Mexico, found secular intolerance has a “chilling effect on Christians, which directly affects their capacity to express their faith freely in society.” That reality is surely present in the United States as well.
Could such self-censorship influence Christians to wish others a more general greeting of “Happy Holidays” – to include Kwanzaa, Yule and Hanukah – rather than “Merry Christmas?” Perhaps.
Either way, Christians should be intentional in looking for opportunities – especially during Christmastime – to share our faith with others. Scripture urges us to “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15, ESV).
This year, a secular “chilling effect” certainly hasn’t stopped the White House from going all-out in their Christmas decorations, perhaps as a part of the president’s desire to strengthen the Christmas season.
On Dec. 1, first lady Melania Trump unveiled the White House’s Christmas decorations.
The first lady personally selected the White House’s 2025 Christmas theme, “Home Is Where The Heart Is,” and appointed renowned designer Hervé Pierre to oversee the implementation of her creative vision. The theme is meant to illuminate the “heartfelt character of America within the People’s House.”
Mrs. Trump decorated the White House with 25,000 feet of ribbon; 10,000 butterflies; 700 feet of garland; 120 pounds of gingerbread; 75 signature wreaths with classic red bows; and more than 50 Christmas trees.
According to the White House, the first lady drew creative inspiration from “the joys, challenges, and frequent motion derived from motherhood and business.”
“The constant movement has taught me that home is not merely a physical space; rather, it is the warmth and comfort I carry within, regardless of my surroundings,” America’s first lady reflected.
Mrs. Trump’s decorations include specially themed rooms, including the “Fostering the Future Red Room,” which the White House described as “a transformational experience dedicated to the foster-care community.” Blue butterflies contrast with the red color to symbolize the meaning of transformation and renewal.
The Blue Room features the official White House Christmas tree, an 18-foot concolor fir from Sidney, Michigan, commemorating Gold Star Families “with gold stars and ornaments representing the official bird and flower of every U.S. state and territories – a tribute to the resilience, bravery, and sacrifice of our military personnel and their families.”
In the White House’s East Room, “Patriotic exhibits featuring America’s signature red, white, and blue” highlight the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence according to the theme, “Home is Where the Heart Is: America, Our Home,” Fox News reports. On the trees are 56 eagle ornaments representing every state and territory; and 250 stars representing America’s 250th anniversary celebration.
“This Christmas, let’s celebrate the love we hold within ourselves, and share it with the world around us,” Mrs. Trump said. “After all, wherever we are, we can create a home filled with grace, radiance, and endless possibilities.”
The stunning Christmas decorations reflect so many important pieces of our nation – from foster families to Gold Star families to our shared status as American citizens.
Yet as Christians, we know the true reason we celebrate the Christmas season: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6, ESV).
From our families to yours, Merry Christmas!
Related articles and resources:
Examining the Evidence of Christmas
Connect with Christ Through Song This Christmas Season
Traditions: Old and New Ways to Celebrate Christmas
Street-Smart Faith: Speaking Truth with Grace
J.John: Winsomely Sharing the Hope of the Gospel
John Smoltz: Unashamed of the Gospel
Child Corrects First Lady Jill Biden: ‘Happy Christmas!’
Photos from Getty Images.
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