A Washington Post article criticizing Trump administration officials for openly referencing Jesus Christ in their Christmas messages has sparked sharp pushback — and renewed debate over whether faith still has a place in America’s public square.

The controversy erupted after the Post published a piece highlighting what it described as an “explicitly sectarian” tone in holiday messages shared by several Trump administration officials. The article took issue with officials referring to Christmas as a celebration of “the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ,” suggesting the language departed from the more secular tone typically used by government agencies in recent years.

Among those mentioned were officials from the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Education, the Department of Justice, and the Department of Defense. According to the article, their words reflected a broader effort by the Trump administration to embrace “the cultural views and language of Trump’s evangelical Christian base.”

However, the White House made it clear that it would not apologize for acknowledging the religious roots of Christmas.

“While the Washington Post would prefer we stick to ‘Happy Holidays,’ we’re saying Merry Christmas again,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital. “And Christmas is a Christian holiday for millions of Christians celebrating the birth of their Savior, whether the Washington Post likes it or not.”

That statement quickly went viral, drawing widespread support from conservatives and Christians who argued that acknowledging Christ at Christmas should not be controversial — especially in a nation founded on religious liberty.

Several administration officials also pushed back publicly. Trump counterterrorism advisor Sebastian Gorka did not mince words, writing on X, “You really do not hate the media scum enough. Christmas is about the birth of our Savior, the Son of God. Our Republic was founded by men of God, based on Western Christian values.”

Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Mark Meador echoed that sentiment, saying, “Imagine how unhappy a person you have to be to write something like this. These people need Jesus.”

The backlash extended beyond government officials. Conservative commentators and faith leaders criticized the Post for what they viewed as hostility toward Christianity.

“The ‘Christ’ in Christmas is a pretty strong signal that the entire foundation of the holiday is Christian,” wrote Federalist CEO Sean Davis. “It might even be a sign that the whole reason for the season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.”

RedState writer Bonchie also weighed in, arguing that cultural elites often celebrate secular ideologies while bristling at expressions of faith. “They’ll dedicate dozens of days a year celebrating mental delusions about gender identity, but notice that Christmas is about Jesus Christ, and the great triggering begins,” he wrote.

Radio host Erick Erickson added that outrage over Christian language at Christmas misses the point entirely. “Such a dumb thing to be outraged about at Christmas,” he said.

Rep. Daniel Alders of Texas took a more theological approach, writing, “It’s not sectarian to believe in the true God who created the universe or to proclaim the good news that the Father sent His Son to save us. There is either truth, or there isn’t.”

For many Christians, the controversy highlights a growing cultural divide over faith in public life. While Christmas has long been both a religious and cultural holiday in the United States, believers argue that acknowledging Christ’s birth should not be treated as offensive or exclusionary.