'Jesus Christ inspires us to love one another,' says Trump at National Tree Lighting Ceremony

Donald Trump with his wife Melania at the National Tree Lighting Ceremony (Photo: White House)

It was all about Jesus at the 97th National Tree Lighting Ceremony in Washington DC on Thursday.

President Donald Trump wished everyone a "Merry Christmas" as his wife Melania pressed the button to light up the stunning tree next to the White House. 

The giant Christmas tree is a Colorado Spruce rising up 30ft and spectacularly adorned with 50,000 lights, as well as 450 stars.

During the ceremony, an annual festive highlight for many Americans, Trump also shared a few words about the meaning of Christmas, starting with the story of Jesus' birth recorded in the Bible. 

"As the Bible tells us, when the Wise Men had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and worshipped him," he said. 

"Jesus Christ inspires us to love one another, with hearts full of generosity and grace."

But he also spoke about the original tree lighting ceremony back in 1923 under President Calvin Coolidge. He shared how after that ceremony, African Americans held an outdoor worship service with a cross lit up on the side of the nearby Washington Monument. 

There was also a touch of faith in the music, too, with Christian singers Colton Dixon and The Voice contestant Spensha Baker both performing. 

And a few Christians in the audience got a special mention from Trump before the end of the ceremony, including the heads of The Salvation Army and Pastor Obed Jauregui, of Bethany Church in Nazarene, Florida. 

Near the end of his speech, he said: "At Christmas, we remember this eternal truth: every person is a beloved child of God.

"As one grateful nation, we praise the joy of family, the blessings of freedom, and the miracle of freedom. On behalf of Melania and our entire family, merry Christmas and God bless you all."

News
On striving for destiny
On striving for destiny

Hebrew scholar and Jewish academic Irene Lancaster reflects on Numbers, leadership and destiny. 

Divorce at 50-year low despite liberalising reforms
Divorce at 50-year low despite liberalising reforms

The Marriage Foundation has welcomed figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), saying they show that marriages are the strongest they have been for 50 years.

Pope Leo XIV calls for global solidarity with Eastern Churches amid conflict and crisis
Pope Leo XIV calls for global solidarity with Eastern Churches amid conflict and crisis

“How can we think that we are laying the foundations of the future apart from cooperation and a global vision inspired by the common good?"

British media preoccupied with Catholic Church - report
British media preoccupied with Catholic Church - report

A study into media coverage of Christianity in Britain has showed that coverage is more likely to take a negative tone towards the faith and is arguably biased towards coverage of the Roman Catholic Church.