White House Removes Easter Event Video After Controversial Remarks Surface
The White House has deleted video footage from a private Easter lunch event where President Donald Trump made controversial statements about European leaders, discussed legal action, and was directly compared to Jesus Christ by his spiritual advisor. The footage was initially posted on official White House platforms before being taken down, though clips have since circulated widely on social media.
Spiritual Advisor's Jesus Comparison Sparks Backlash
Paula White-Cain, televangelist and long-time spiritual advisor to Trump across both his presidencies, faced immediate criticism for her remarks during Wednesday's White House Easter lunch. In her address to attendees, she drew direct parallels between Trump's experiences and the biblical narrative of Jesus Christ.
"Mr. President, no one has paid the price like you have paid the price. It almost cost you your life," Cain stated during her remarks. "You were betrayed and arrested and falsely accused. It's a familiar pattern that our Lord and savior showed us. But it didn't end there for him, and it didn't end there for you."
The lunch event was closed to press coverage, but attendees included prominent administration figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Also present was Erika Kirk, widow of slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
Trump's Controversial Remarks During Private Gathering
Despite the White House's removal of the official video, multiple clips from Trump's closed-door speech have emerged through social media channels. In one segment posted by the Democratic National Committee's FactPost account, Trump expressed frustration about regulatory obstacles to his business projects.
"I can't get a ballroom approved," Trump complained about a recent unfavorable ruling concerning his $400 million development project. "It's pretty amazing, right? If I was a king, we'd be doing a lot more. I'm doing a lot, but I could be doing a lot more if I was a king."
The president also offered legal advice to Erika Kirk, encouraging her to pursue litigation against critics who had mocked her online. "I said, you ought to sue, I can say — you're not allowed to say this — you have to be nicer. Sue their a** off," Trump told Kirk without specifically naming the social media comedian Druski, whose real name is Drew Desbordes.
Mockery of European Leaders and International Diplomacy
During the religious event, Trump took the opportunity to mock several European leaders, including what appeared to be an impersonation of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Trump recounted asking the British leader to deploy two aircraft carriers to the Middle East during ongoing tensions with Iran.
"Oh... I'll have to ask my team," Trump said while adopting a concerned voice that attendees interpreted as mocking Starmer's response. Laughter was audible from the room following this remark.
The president then targeted French President Emmanuel Macron, referencing a widely-publicized incident from the previous year where Macron's wife Brigitte appeared to push him in the face during a public appearance. "I call up France, Macron – whose wife treats him extremely badly... Still recovering from the right to the jaw," Trump quipped, pausing briefly as laughter filled the room before smirking at his own comment.
Video Removal and Ongoing Circulation
The White House has not provided an official explanation for removing the Easter event video from its website and YouTube channel. While the complete footage is no longer publicly available on official platforms, a thumbnail image remained visible on the White House site as of Thursday. Photos from the event continue to appear on White House social media accounts.
It remains unclear whether the video was posted unintentionally initially, but reporters and the Democratic National Committee managed to download copies before the White House took it down. These clips have since spread across various social media platforms, ensuring the controversial remarks continue to reach a wide audience despite the official deletion.
The Independent has contacted the White House for comment regarding the video removal and the content of Trump's remarks during the private Easter gathering.
