Trump Sits Silently as Adviser Compares Him to Jesus, Dismisses Need for Federal Childcare Support

The president's response to controversial remarks and policy positions sparks outrage on social media

Apr. 4, 2026 at 1:53am

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A cinematic painting of a solitary figure seated in the Oval Office, the room bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and unease surrounding the president's response to controversial events.The president's muted reaction to divisive remarks and policy positions during a White House event exposes a disconnect between rhetoric and the realities facing American families.NYC Today

During a White House Easter luncheon, President Donald Trump remained silent as his senior adviser Paula White-Cain made a controversial comparison between Trump and Jesus Christ. Later, Trump dismissed the federal government's role in providing childcare support, saying states should handle it even if it means raising taxes. The comments drew swift backlash on social media, with critics calling the remarks inappropriate, offensive, and disconnected from the realities facing American families.

Why it matters

Trump's response, or lack thereof, to White-Cain's remarks about him being like Jesus, as well as his dismissal of the federal government's role in supporting childcare, highlight the president's tendency to make controversial statements and align himself with religious figures in ways that many find troubling. The childcare comments also contradict his own past campaign promises, raising questions about his priorities and policies.

The details

At the White House Easter luncheon, White-Cain, a senior adviser and leader of the White House Faith Office, delivered a speech in which she likened Trump to Jesus, saying he had been 'betrayed and arrested and falsely accused' in a 'familiar pattern' like the 'Lord and Savior.' Trump sat silently as she made these remarks, allowing the comparison to stand unchallenged. Later in the event, Trump dismissed the federal government's role in providing childcare support, saying states should handle it even if it means raising taxes on residents. This contradicted his own past campaign promises to prioritize and help offset the costs of childcare.

  • The controversial White House Easter luncheon took place on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
  • In a 2024 appearance, Trump described childcare as a 'very important issue' and suggested his economic policies would help ease the burden for working families.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States.

Paula White-Cain

A senior adviser to President Trump and the leader of the White House Faith Office.

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What they’re saying

“You were betrayed and arrested and falsely accused. It's a familiar pattern that our Lord and Savior showed us. ...Sir, because of His resurrection, you rose up.”

— Paula White-Cain, Senior Adviser and White House Faith Office Leader

“I feel embarrassed for a lot of Christians in this country.”

— Mehdi Hasan, Former MSNBC Commentator

“This is blasphemy. This is what it sounds like to take Jesus' name in vain.”

— Rev. Benjamin Cremer

What’s next

The White House has removed the video of the controversial remarks from their social media channels, but the footage has already spread online, sparking widespread outrage and criticism. It remains to be seen if there will be any further fallout or response from the administration.

The takeaway

Trump's silence in the face of his adviser's inappropriate comparison, as well as his dismissive stance on federal childcare support, underscore the president's tendency to court controversy and make statements that many find disconnected from the real-world challenges facing American families. These incidents further erode public trust and raise concerns about the administration's priorities and values.