Donald Trump's campaign and religious conservatives are criticizing President Biden after he called on people a few days ago to join him in celebrating Transgender Visibility Day. The day, March 31, also coincides with Easter this year.
On Friday, the Democratic president called on “all Americans to join us in uplifting the lives and voices of transgender people across our nation and working to eliminate violence and discrimination based on gender identity.”
Easter is one of the holiest Christian celebrations. The Trump campaign accused Biden, a devout Catholic, of being insensitive to religion, and his fellow Republicans attacked him.
“We call on Joe Biden’s failed campaign and the White House to issue an apology to the millions of Catholics and Christians across America who believe tomorrow is only one celebration — the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” said Carolyn Leavitt, Trump campaign press secretary. Saturday. She accused the Biden administration of “assaulting the Christian faith over the years.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said on social media that “the Biden White House has betrayed the fundamental principle of Easter” and called the decision “outrageous and abhorrent.”
White House spokesman Andrew Bates said Republicans criticizing Biden “seek to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful, and dishonest rhetoric.”
“As a Christian who celebrates Easter with his family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and preserving the dignity and freedoms of every American,” Bates said. “President Biden will never misuse his faith for political purposes or profit.”
Biden regularly attends Mass and considers his Catholic upbringing an essential part of his morals and identity. But his support for gay marriage and abortion rights has put him at odds with many conservative Christians. Some Catholics have suggested that he should not receive Holy Communion because of those attitudes.
In 2021, Biden met with Pope Francis at the Vatican, after which he told reporters that the pope said he was a “good Catholic” and should continue to receive Communion.
Bock writes for the Associated Press.
