Trump campaign accuses Biden of ‘assault on Christianity’ in trans visibility clash

The Trump campaign has accused Joe Biden of wielding an “assault on the Christian faith” for marking an annual transgender event, which this year falls on Easter Sunday.

The US President on Friday put out a statement proclaiming Sunday as International Transgender Day of Visibility (ITDV) – an annual event that has been celebrated on March 31 since 2009.

Marking the celebration, Mr Biden, a devout Catholic, told transgender Americans: “My entire administration and I have your back.”

He also attacked the “extremists are proposing hundreds of hateful laws that target and terrify transgender kids and their families’’.

But Mr Biden, who has put a similar statement on March 30 every year of his administration, has been attacked by Republicans who accused him of “betraying” the Christian holiday for his remarks.

Karoline Leavitt, the national press secretary for the Trump campaign, said in a statement: “It is appalling and insulting that Joe Biden’s White House prohibited children from submitting religious egg designs for their Easter Art Event, and formally proclaimed Easter Sunday as ‘Trans Day of Visibility’.

“Sadly, these are just two more examples of the Biden Administration’s years-long assault on the Christian faith. We call on Joe Biden’s failing campaign and White House to issue an apology to the millions of Catholics and Christians across America who believe tomorrow is for one celebration only – the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” she added.

Vivek Ramaswamy, a former presidential candidate, also commented, saying: “I wonder how [Biden] came up with that date.”

Mike Johnson, the Republican House speaker, accused Mr Biden of having “betrayed the central tenet of Easter”.

“Banning sacred truth and tradition, while at the same time proclaiming Easter Sunday as ‘Transgender Day’, is outrageous and abhorrent,” he wrote, adding: “The American people are taking note.”

Easter falls on the first Sunday after the full moon after the spring equinox, between March 22 and April 25. ITDV will not fall on Easter Sunday again for at least another 20 years.

It comes as the White House drew controversy ahead of its annual Easter Egg Roll event, which will include submissions of festively designed eggs painted by children of National Guard troops.

National Guard families taking part were told their entries won’t be counted if they include “questionable content”, including “religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements”.

Children will also be banned from designing their eggs with anything that promotes “bigotry, racism, hatred or harm against any group or individual or promotes discrimination based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age”.

The Telegraph has approached the Biden administration for comment.