White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday addressed backlash against President Joe Biden for celebrating and declaring Easter Sunday as “Transgender Day of Visibility,” dismissing the controversy as intentional “misinformation” from conservatives.
Biden and his White House not only issued the proclamation on Friday, but also issued numerous posts on social media on Easter Sunday to celebrate trans-identifying Americans. Notably, President Biden is the only president to ever recognize “Transgender Day of Visibility” with a presidential proclamation.
Still, Jean-Pierre contended that the controversy was actually “misinformation,” arguing that “Transgender Day of Visibility” just so happened to have fallen on the holy Christian day, and Biden was right to celebrate transgenderism in numerous posts and the proclamation.
“Every year for the past several years on March 31, Transgender Day of Visibility is marked,” she told the press. “Easter falls on different Sundays every year, and this year it happened to coincide with Transgender Visibility Day.”
“What we’ve been hearing out there [is] a lot of misinformation done on purpose,” she accused. “It is dishonest what we have heard the past 24 hours. It is untrue,” the press secretary claimed.
Jean-Pierre also said Biden is a “Christian who celebrates Easter with family” and “stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedoms of every American,” adding that it’s “unsurprising” politicians on the Right “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,” Jean-Pierre said. “That is not what this administration is about. That is not what being a leader is about, and this misinformation out there [is] bad and it is dividing.”
WATCH:
AP’s Will Weissert: “So, the criticism over the Transgender Day of Visibility, the WH said that the President wouldn't abuse his faith for political purposes. Does the President think that's what Republicans are doing on this?”
KJP: “I mean, look, just a couple of things. And,… pic.twitter.com/2svPyQ6BRk
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) April 1, 2024
Biden’s Friday proclamation said “Transgender Day of Visibility” is about honoring the “extraordinary courage and contributions of transgender Americans,” adding that “transgender Americans are part of the fabric of our nation.”
A post on the White House X account, published on Easter Sunday, said, “Transgender Americans are part of the fabric of our nation. On Transgender Day of Visibility, our Administration honors the extraordinary courage of transgender Americans and reaffirms our commitment to forming a more perfect union – where all people are treated equally.”
Transgender Americans are part of the fabric of our nation.
On Transgender Day of Visibility, our Administration honors the extraordinary courage of transgender Americans and reaffirms our commitment to forming a more perfect union – where all people are treated equally. pic.twitter.com/ElRf9l62Nk
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 31, 2024
Also on Easter Sunday, Joe Biden’s X account issued a post reading, “On Transgender Day of Visibility, we celebrate the joy, strength, and absolute courage of some of the bravest people I know. Today, we show millions of transgender and nonbinary Americans that we see them, they belong, and they should be treated with dignity and respect.”
On Transgender Day of Visibility, we celebrate the joy, strength, and absolute courage of some of the bravest people I know.
Today, we show millions of transgender and nonbinary Americans that we see them, they belong, and they should be treated with dignity and respect. pic.twitter.com/mhixHV9KC2
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) March 31, 2024
And on Biden’s presidential X account, a post published on Easter Sunday said, “Today, on Transgender Day of Visibility, I have a simple message to all trans Americans: I see you. You are made in the image of God, and you’re worthy of respect and dignity.”
Today, on Transgender Day of Visibility, I have a simple message to all trans Americans:
I see you.
You are made in the image of God, and you're worthy of respect and dignity. pic.twitter.com/ihvsJrXEyd
— President Biden (@POTUS) March 31, 2024