Donald Trump’s campaign and religious conservatives are criticizing President Biden for declaring March 31, which corresponds to Easter Sunday this year, as Transgender Day of Visibility.

The Democratic president issued the proclamation Friday, calling on all Americans to join us in lifting up the lives and voices of transgender people across our country and working to eliminate violence and discrimination based on gender identity.

March 31 this year is Easter, one of Christianity’s holiest holidays. Trump’s campaign accused Biden, a devout Roman Catholic, of being insensitive to religion, and fellow Republicans piled on.

“We call on Joe Biden’s failing campaign and the White House to apologize to the millions of Catholics and Christians across America who believe that tomorrow is but one celebration: the resurrection of Jesus Christ,” said Karoline Leavitt, press secretary of the Trump campaign Saturday. . She accused the Biden administration of a “years-long attack on the Christian faith.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on social media that the Biden White House has betrayed the central principle of Easter, calling the decision outrageous and abhorrent.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates said Republicans who criticize Biden are trying to divide and weaken our country with cruel, hateful and unfair rhetoric.

As a Christian who celebrates Easter with family, President Biden stands for bringing people together and upholding the dignity and freedoms of every American,” Bates said. “President Biden will never abuse his faith for political purposes or profiteering.

Biden regularly attends Mass and considers his Catholic upbringing a core part of his morality and identity. But his support for gay marriage and abortion rights has put him at odds with many conservative Christians.

Some Catholics have suggested that he should not receive Holy Communion because of those positions.

In 2021, Biden met with Pope Francis at the Vatican and told reporters afterward that the pope said he was a good Catholic who should continue to receive communion.

Book writes for the Associated Press.