Reformation Day

Trump put out a statement today recognizing Reformation Day. That doesn’t sound like a big deal until you realize almost no president has ever done it. The only other time a sitting president publicly acknowledged it was Herbert Hoover back in 1930, and even then it was just a short greeting he sent to a Lutheran group. Nothing formal, nothing broad, and nothing like what came out of the White House today. What Trump actually said is the interesting part. He didn’t just say “happy Reformation Day.” He connected Martin Luther, the emphasis on Scripture, and people like William Tyndale straight to the ideas of God-given rights and liberty that shaped the founding. And he did it while the country’s in the middle of its 250th anniversary. Most presidents will issue a proclamation for Thanksgiving or Christmas without thinking twice. Reformation Day, though? That’s specific. And for whatever reason, it’s basically never been something the White House has bothered to mark. So yeah, it’s a small thing on paper. But in practice it’s one of those moments where a president is openly tying America’s story to the Reformation instead of treating that history like something that doesn’t matter. Whether you like him or not, that part is new.

— Allen Mashburn (@RealMashburn4NC) October 31, 2026

… short greeting he sent to a Lutheran group. Nothing formal, nothing broad, and nothing like what came out of the White House today.

What Trump actually said is the interesting part. He didn’t just say “happy Reformation Day.” He connected Martin Luther, the emphasis on Scripture, and people like William Tyndale straight to the ideas of God-given rights and liberty that shaped the founding. And he did it while the country’s in the middle of its 250th anniversary.

Most presidents will issue a proclamation for Thanksgiving or Christmas without thinking twice. Reformation Day, though? That’s specific. And for whatever reason, it’s basically never been something the White House has bothered to mark.

So yeah, it’s a small thing on paper. But in practice it’s one of those moments where a president is openly tying America’s story to the Reformation instead of treating that history like something that doesn’t matter.

Whether you like him or not, that part is new.

Presidential Message on Reformation Day: From the earliest days of our Republic, prayer and faith in Almighty God have stood as the foundation of our strength, the source of our unity, and the fount of our greatness. This Reformation Day, I send my best wishes to the countless Christians across our country commemorating the Protestant Reformation and its enduring message of salvation by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Five hundred years ago, William Tyndale — inspired by the work of Martin Luther — advanced the Protestant Reformation’s devotion to Holy Scripture through the publication of the first New Testament printed in English, shaping the language of the Bibles that would fortify the faith and resolve of America’s founding generation. The Sacred Scriptures helped form the religious convictions that formed our young Nation’s founding ideals of God-given rights and individual liberty, a spiritual inheritance we honor as we continue to reflect on 250 glorious years of American Independence. The Bible remains a cornerstone of our Nation’s character and upholds our steadfast devotion to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Guided by an unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, my Administration is working to restore the moral and religious foundations that have sustained our Republic for generations. As President, I will always support citizens of faith and defend their place in the public square, honoring the enduring role of our churches in strengthening families, serving communities, and preserving the core values that have anchored us across the centuries. As Christians across our country unite in faith and fellowship this Reformation Day, I send my heartfelt prayers for a meaningful celebration and encourage each of you to draw renewed strength from God’s Word as we carry forward the blessings of faith and freedom throughout our beloved Nation. https://t.co/ieTwu9VQap

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 31, 2026