Trump says he loves all Americans, whether he 'likes them or not' at Christmas tree lighting

'We love them all. We want to take care of everybody. We have to take care of everybody in our country,' Trump said
UPDATED DEC 5, 2025
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in the 103rd National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the White House Ellipse on December 4, 2025, in Washington, DC (Getty Images)
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in the 103rd National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the White House Ellipse on December 4, 2025, in Washington, DC (Getty Images)


WASHINGTON, DC: After the annual National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony just south of the White House on Thursday, December 4, President Donald Trump talked about unity and faith. 

He made a point of saying that he loves all of our great citizens, even the ones that he might personally dislike.

 Right before that, he had called upon the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, presenting Christmas as a time for remembering common values and treating each other with ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌respect.

Trump calls to honor the sacred truth that 'every child is made in the image of God'

In his remarks, Trump not only emphasized Christian faith and holiday spirit but also touched on recent national trauma.



“With the birth of Jesus, human history turned from night to day. His word and his example call us to love one another, to serve one another, and to honor the sacred truth that every child is made in the image of God,” Trump said with the executive mansion in the background. 

With the first lady Melania Trump by his side, he invoked biblical imagery to reinforce his message of national cohesion.

The tree lighting ceremony also included performances by the Beach Boys, Alana Springsteen, Brett Young among other musicians.

A message of love for all 350 million Americans

U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in the 103rd National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the White House Ellipse on December 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. The tree is a 32-foot-tall red spruce from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia's Highland County. This is the second year in a row that the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests have provided the tree. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in the 103rd National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the White House Ellipse on December 4, 2025, in Washington, DC (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“I want to pay my deepest respect and love to all of our great citizens, like 350 million people. We love them all, whether you like them or not. We love them all. We want to take care of everybody. We have to take care of everybody in our country,” said Trump.

The 79-year-old,​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ along with expressing grief and relying on his faith, seized the opportunity to emphasize his administration's somewhat recent foreign policy and domestic successes.

Among those achievements, he mentioned the peace agreements made this year, the border that has been solidified, and the economy skyrocketing. 

“As a nation, we have much to be grateful for. On this holiday season, our border is secure. Our spirit is restored,” he said.

“Our economy is thriving. Inflation has stopped. Our nation is strong, and America is back, bigger and better, stronger, better than ever before.”

U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump participate in the 103rd National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at the White House Ellipse on December 04, 2025 in Washington, DC. The tree is a 32-foot-tall red spruce from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia's Highland County. This is the second year in a row that the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests have provided the tree. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
The tree is a 32-foot-tall red spruce from the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia's Highland County. This is the second year in a row that the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests have provided the tree. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The National Christmas Tree lighting

The National Christmas Tree site will be open starting December 6, 2025, through January 1, 2026. 

Hours for visiting the National Christmas Tree site are Sun–Thurs, 10 am–10 pm; and Fri–Sat, 10 am–11 pm. The trees will be lit around sunset each evening during this time.

The tree has more than 80,000 LED lights and is surrounded by 59 smaller trees donated by a North Carolina tree farm that represent every US state, territory, the District of Columbia, the Bureau of Indian Education, Department of Defense schools and America250.

They are hung with ornaments created by students.

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