Former Presidents Send Divergent Holiday Greetings

As the outgoing and incoming U.S. presidents, Joe Biden and Donald Trump had distinct messages for the Christmas holiday in 2024. While Biden urged Americans to reflect and unite, Trump offered a holiday greeting that quickly turned into an attack on his political opponents.

Biden’s Message of Unity

In a video tour of the White House Christmas decorations published on YouTube late on Christmas Eve, Biden emphasized the importance of treating each other with dignity and respect. He encouraged Americans to find a moment of “quiet reflection” to remind themselves that there is more to unite than divide. “We’re here on this Earth to care for one another, to love one another,” he said.

Biden’s message was in line with his presidential campaign promise to end the “uncivil war” between red and blue states, rural and urban areas, and conservatives and liberals. Despite his Democrats losing every battleground state and both houses of Congress in the November election, Biden bowed out of the 2024 presidential race in July to unite the country.

Trump’s Message: Politics as Usual

In contrast, Trump published a “Merry Christmas” message on Truth Social with a photo of himself and his wife Melania. However, this quickly turned into a platform for him to promote his political positions and attack his opponents. He re-posted over two dozen articles or social media posts that backed his stance on issues like the Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth and his pursuit of Greenland and the Panama Canal.

In a later message, Trump claimed Chinese soldiers were operating the Panama Canal and criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Biden, and Democrats. He also took aim at “Radical Left Lunatics” who are trying to obstruct the court system and elections.