‘Go to Hell,’ ‘The Light of Freedom’ and Other Ways to Send Presidential Christmas Messages
The New York Times
Past U.S. presidents have used their holiday messages to inspire the nation to face hard times by coming together. President-elect Donald J. Trump had his own idea.
Merry Christmas to the “wonderful soldiers of China” and to “Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada” and “the people of Greenland.” As for the 37 men on federal death row who recently received commutations from President Biden? “GO TO HELL!”
The messages, posted online by President-elect Donald J. Trump on Christmas, were characteristic for a man known for his bombastic social media presence, but they veered sharply from the standard holiday ideals of unity delivered from the White House.
The posts, which appeared on Truth Social, the online platform owned by Mr. Trump’s media company, labeled his opponents as “Radical Left Lunatics,” and once again described the current president as “Sleepy Joe Biden.”
Mr. Trump’s Christmas comments also hinted at what could be his priorities come Jan. 20, as he spoke about asserting U.S. control over the Panama Canal and Greenland, which he covets for its reserves of rare earth minerals needed for advanced technology.
“We had the Greatest Election in the History of our Country, a bright light is now shining over the U.S.A.,” Mr. Trump wrote, “and, in 26 days, we will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
Here’s a look at how some past presidents have addressed the nation on Christmas, in times of war, recession and instability.
