President Donald Trump issued a message Sunday marking the start of Hanukkah, extending greetings to Jewish communities in the United States and around the world and reaffirming his administration’s support for religious freedom and the right to worship without fear.
“I extend my warmest greetings to the Jewish community in the United States and all around the world as they begin their celebration of Hanukkah—the Festival of Lights and a joyous season of reflection and hope,” Trump said in a statement released by the White House on December 14.
The president reflected on the origins of Hanukkah, recounting the Jewish people’s resistance to religious persecution more than 2,000 years ago and the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem following their victory over occupying forces.
“Following their tremendous victory, they sought to rededicate their Holy Temple,” Trump said. “As tradition tells us, although they only had enough oil to light the lamp in the Temple for one night, in a glorious sign of the Almighty’s divine providence, it remained aflame for 8 days.”
Trump noted that the lighting of the menorah remains a central tradition of the holiday and a symbol of enduring faith.
“In remembrance of this great miracle, over the next 8 days, families and loved ones will gather to light the menorah, which serves as an enduring symbol of light’s victory over darkness and the eternal triumph of good over evil,” he said. “Hanukkah is a thanksgiving for these miracles.”
The statement also referenced America’s historical commitment to religious liberty, citing a 1790 letter from George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island.
“To this day, the menorah stands as an enduring symbol of liberty, of the idea that each citizen, in the words that George Washington wrote to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, ‘shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree and there shall be none to make him afraid,’” Trump said.
The president emphasized that protecting religious freedom remains a priority for his administration.
“This holiday season, my Administration continues to stand firmly with the Jewish people and defend the right of every believer to worship freely and without fear of persecution,” he said.
Trump’s Hanukkah message follows recent actions by his administration to elevate religious liberty as a national priority, including the Religious Liberty Commission’s meeting in Dallas earlier this month, where local civic, faith, and military leaders testified about religious discrimination and First Amendment protections, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.
Trump’s message was released as Jewish communities in the United States mark the start of Hanukkah amid heightened security at public celebrations following recent attacks targeting Jewish gatherings abroad.
Concluding the message, Trump drew parallels between the perseverance of the Jewish people and the founding of the United States, describing America as a nation sustained by faith and divine providence.
“Just as the grace of the Almighty brought the Maccabees to victory, it has sustained the miracle of America—a shining light to the entire world—for nearly 250 years,” Trump said. “As we continue to usher in the Golden Age, may the blessings of this season bring renewed peace, joy, and warmth to all those who celebrate. Happy Hanukkah!”
