For years, many Americans experienced the same December ritual: walking into stores and hearing employees wish “Happy Holidays,” triggering a familiar pang of frustration. They knew precisely what was intended—but by some accounts, the phrase “Merry Christmas” had become so politically sensitive that it dared not be spoken aloud. Corporate memo writers and HR departments had deemed it safer to strip the season of its identity, as though acknowledging what 90% of Americans actually celebrated would invite consequence.
The trend intensified annually: schools renamed Christmas concerts “winter celebrations,” retailers trained staff to avoid the word “Christmas” like radioactive material, and cities rebranded “Christmas tree lighting” ceremonies as “holiday tree” events. Christmas—a tradition cherished since before the American Revolution—was suddenly treated as something vaguely embarrassing, a phrase to mumble rather than proclaim.
This shift reversed when the Trump administration launched a new federal website with the URL “MerryChristmas.gov.” The site describes itself as celebrating moments of design, innovation, and public work that helped shape the nation over twelve days. Its stated message: “Consider it a small holiday reminder of what America can build together.”
The site’s debut this past Sunday represents more than technical change—it signals a cultural reset. Unlike earlier efforts to soften the term, the URL is unapologetically clear: “Merry Christmas,” not “Happy Holidays” or “Seasonal Celebration.”
President Trump consistently framed Christmas as a cultural priority during his 2024 campaign, declaring at an August event: “We’re going to have Merry Christmas just like we got for everybody seven years ago—we brought it back. It was in deep trouble but we brought it back.” The crowd responded with enthusiasm.
By December 2025, White House social media accounts fully embraced Christmas messaging. Even the Department of Homeland Security—typically unassociated with festive imagery—posted images of agents in Santa hats with captions like “YOU’RE GOING HO HO HOME.” Government memes also adopted a seasonal tone.
MerryChristmas.gov includes features suggesting genuine commitment: a live weather tracker monitoring conditions at both the North Pole and White House (current North Pole forecast: cold). Each day through December 25, it highlights an element of American heritage, beginning with the iconic WPA poster program from the Great Depression era.
For families gathering this holiday season, the message is unmistakable. The federal government has officially restored Christmas as a celebrated tradition without apology.
