Donald Trump has slammed Joe Biden, accusing the President of an "assault on the Christian faith" for marking an annual transgender event.
The former President accused Biden of "betraying" Easter Sunday, which coincidentally fell on the same day as International Transgender Day of Visibility (ITDV).
ITDV has been held on March 31 every year since 2009, with President Biden marking the date every year of his administration.
However, members of the Republican party questioned the announcement, with some accusing the president of "betraying the central tenet of Easter".
Trump accused Biden of "betraying" Easter Sunday
Reuters/Getty
National press secretary for the Trump campaign said in a statement: "It is appalling and insulting that Joe Biden’s White House prohibited children from submitting religious egg designs for their Easter Art Event, and formally proclaimed Easter Sunday as ‘Trans Day of Visibility’.
"Sadly, these are just two more examples of the Biden Administration’s years-long assault on the Christian faith.
"We call on Joe Biden’s failing campaign and White House to issue an apology to the millions of Catholics and Christians across America who believe tomorrow is for one celebration only – the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said: "Banning sacred truth and tradition, while at the same time proclaiming Easter Sunday as 'Transgender Day', is outrageous and abhorrent...the American people are taking note."
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U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson
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Responding to the speaker's claims, White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement: "As a Christian who celebrates Easter with family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedoms of every American.
"Sadly, it’s unsurprising politicians are seeking to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful, and dishonest rhetoric. President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or for profit."
Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia added: "Apparently, the speaker finds trans people abhorrent. And I think he ought to think about that."
Speaking on CNN’s "State of the Union", Senator Warnock said that the Republican response marks "just one more instance of folks who do not know how to lead us trying to divide us."
Senator Rev. Raphael Warnock (GA-D)
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Some Republicans, including Johnson and Trump, also claimed that Biden banned religious-themed designs at the White House’s Easter events. The American Egg Board, which partners with the White House on Easter events, said the procedures in place this year haven’t changed.
President and CEO of the American Egg Boar Emily Metz said in a statement: "The American Egg Board has been a supporter of the White House Easter Egg Roll for over 45 years and the guideline language referenced in recent news reports has consistently applied to the board since its founding, across administrations."
Metz said the board is required to "operate within federal guidelines for all of its activities" and that it is "prohibited from discriminating in all programming and activities on the basis of religion, political beliefs and all other stated categories".
A spokesperson for First Lady Jill Biden, cast the Republican egg complaints as "misleading swirl" and posted on X, "The American Egg Board flyer’s standard non-discrimination language requesting artwork has been used for the last 45 years, across all Dem & Republican Admins."
