President Joe Biden’s 2024 Thanksgiving Proclamation breaks tradition by omitting references to God, sparking debate over secularism and religious identity in America.
At a Glance
- Biden’s 2024 Thanksgiving proclamation excluded mentions of God or Divine Providence
- The omission follows a precedent set by Barack Obama in 2016
- Previous presidents, including Lincoln, consistently referenced God in their proclamations
- The move raises questions about balancing tradition and inclusivity in official communications
Biden Breaks Tradition in Thanksgiving Proclamation
President Joe Biden’s 2024 Thanksgiving Proclamation has stirred controversy by departing from a long-standing tradition of acknowledging God in the annual presidential address. On November 29, as Biden pardoned the National Thanksgiving Turkey, named Peach, his accompanying proclamation noticeably lacked any reference to “Almighty God” or “Divine Providence,” terms that have been staples in such declarations for over a century.
This omission is particularly striking given Biden’s well-known status as a devout Catholic. The president’s proclamation instead focused on expressing gratitude to various groups, including firefighters, police officers, and first responders, but conspicuously avoided attributing the nation’s blessings to a higher power.
Joe Biden Snubs ‘Almighty God’ in Thanksgiving Proclamation https://t.co/RwYHBPb0oE
— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) November 25, 2023
Historical Context and Precedent
The tradition of presidential Thanksgiving proclamations dates back to Abraham Lincoln, who established Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863. Lincoln’s proclamation set a precedent by emphasizing gratitude to God, a practice that subsequent presidents largely followed. In his historic address, Lincoln stated that the day should be observed “as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”
Lincoln’s words underscored the religious underpinnings of the holiday, a sentiment echoed by many of his successors. For instance, President Rutherford B. Hayes encouraged Americans to gather “in their respective places of worship, there to give thanks and praise to Almighty God for His mercies and to devoutly beseech their continuance.”
A Shift Towards Secularism?
Biden’s omission of religious references is not unprecedented in recent history. His approach mirrors that of Barack Obama, who in 2016 also issued a Thanksgiving proclamation devoid of references to God. This trend stands in contrast to the proclamations of other modern presidents, including Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump, all of whom maintained the tradition of acknowledging divine providence in their Thanksgiving messages.
The president’s decision to exclude religious language has reignited debates about the role of faith in public discourse and official communications. Supporters of Biden’s approach argue that it reflects a more inclusive stance, respecting the diverse beliefs of all Americans. Critics, however, contend that it represents an unnecessary departure from a cherished tradition that has long been part of America’s cultural fabric.
