Sen. Raphael Warnock slams Republicans for 'dividing' Americans after outcry ensued over Biden marking 'transgender visibility day' on Easter

Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock is pushing back on Republican outcry after President Joe Biden declared 'transgender day of visibility' on Sunday, which this year is also Easter Sunday.

Warnock, who is a reverend, slammed the criticism, claiming Republicans are trying to 'divide' the country and saying House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) 'thinks trans people are abhorrent.'

'This is the opposite of the Christian faith,' Sen. Warnock (D-Ga.) told CNN State of the Union host Dana Bash on Sunday.

Transgender Day of Visibility since 2009 has been observed on March 31, while the date for Easter Sunday is variable but happens to fall on the same day this year. The date of Easter Sunday will not fall on March 31 again for at least the next decade.

In line with practices in previous years of his administration, President Biden released a statement last week observing the upcoming transgender day on Sunday, which sent Republicans into a frenzy.

Republican House Speaker Johnson slammed Biden for 'betraying the central tenet of Easter', and said the 'American people are taking note' of the 'outrageous and abhorrent' break with tradition.

'Well apparently the Speaker finds trans people abhorrent, and I think he ought to think about that,' Warnock said in his Sunday interview.

'The fact of the matter is, as you said, that March 31 has been a day to lift up transgender people who endure violence and bigotry,' the Democratic senator said. 'But this is just one more instance of folks who do not know how to lead us trying to divide us.'

The reverend added: 'In a moment like this we need voices – particularly voices of faith – who would use our faith not as a weapon to beat other people down but as a bridge to bring us together.'

Many Republican and Trump-aligned voices joined Speaker Johnson in outcry over Biden's statement, claiming he was taking religion out of the day despite the president being a devout Catholic.

'For the holiest day in the Christian religion, Biden decides to make it Transgender Day,' Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 'I thought this wasn't real when I read it, but it is. I will be celebrating Jesus and his resurrection this Easter. Biden can keep worshipping (sic) at the alter (sic) of wokeism.'

Two days after the statement marking transgender visibility day, Biden also released on Easter Sunday a statement celebrating the Christina holiday.

'Jill and I send our warmest wishes to Christians around the world celebrating Easter Sunday,' the president wrote.

'As we gather with loved ones, we remember Jesus' sacrifice. We pray for one another and cherish the blessing of the dawn of new possibilities.'

He also acknowledged foreign waging wars: 'And with wars and conflict taking a toll on innocent lives around the world, we renew our commitment to work for peace, security, and dignity for all people.'

Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. wrote in an X post on Saturday: 'Biden is banning religious symbols from Easter celebrations at the White House, while flying the trans flag and declaring Easter Sunday to be 'Trans Visibility Day.' This is the left's new religion.'

'They want people worshiping the trans flag instead of God. They must be stopped,' he added.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said: 'There is no length Biden and the Democrats won't go to mock your faith, and to thumb his nose at God.

'We know that Christ is King and God will not be mocked, just like we know Joe Biden isn't really the one calling the shots in the White House,' she added.