WASHINGTON — President Trump proclaimed his love of “all of our great citizens” including the ones he dislikes Thursday night after lighting the national Christmas tree just south of the White House.
Trump, 79, made the unusually sentimental remark shortly after citing Jesus’ example.
“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 specially made in the image of God,” Trump said with the executive mansion in the background.
“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.”
Trump’s holiday warmth follows his recent mean streak attacking journalists as “ugly,” “stupid” and “terrible,” and even calling one “piggy” after she asked about files pertaining to the late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The president, who is hosting nearly 30 smaller holiday parties inside the White House this month, told the large outdoor crowd that he was proud of peace deals he has helped broker this year and hopeful that he will soon add the Russia-Ukraine war to the list.
He also noted the Thanksgiving eve shooting of two National Guard members just north of the White House, allegedly by an Afghan asylee, which has unleashed a pause on asylum processing, a review of green card holders and the cessation of visa issuance for other Afghans.
“I want to pay my highest respects to those two great guardsmen, you know who I’m talking about,” Trump said in a somber note.
“They paid, in one case, the ultimate and the other, Andrew [Wolfe], is getting better. Sarah [Beckstrom], unfortunately, is watching from a high, watching from heaven. Parents are so incredible, and Andrew is hopefully getting better,” he said.
“I spoke with the parents and met the parents today by the parents of Andrew, and they have spirit, and they love our country so much, you wouldn’t believe.”
Trump offered an upbeat assessment of year-end progress, with hockey player Wayne Gretzky, members of The Beach Boys and Cabinet members in the audience.
“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.”
