On the original game show To Tell the Truth, four celebrity panelists were presented with three contestants whose unusual occupations or experiences, as announced by the program’s host, were deciphered in a series of questions the panelists asked the contestants. At the end, the host would confirm whether the panel had correctly matched the contestant with his or her occupation by intoning, “Will the real ______ please stand up?”
The popular show, hosted by the likes of Bud Collyer, Garry Moore and Joe Garagiola, ran from 1956 to 1968 on CBS. That memory came to mind while reviewing two presidential statements over the past few days.
Stan Hastey
The first, an official White House statement titled “Presidential Message on Holy Week, 2025” was issued April 13, and read as follows:
This Holy Week, Melania and I join in prayer with Christians celebrating the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ — the living Son of God who conquered death, freed us from sin, and unlocked the gates of heaven for all of humanity.
Beginning with Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and culminating in the Paschal Triduum, which begins on Holy Thursday with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, followed by Good Friday, and reaching its pinnacle in the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night, this week is a time of reflection for Christians to memorialize Jesus’ crucifixion — and to prepare their hearts, minds and souls for his miraculous Resurrection from the dead.
During this sacred week, we acknowledge that the glory of Easter Sunday cannot come without the sacrifice Jesus Christ made on the cross. In his final hours on earth, Christ willingly endured excruciating pain, torture and execution on the cross out of a deep and abiding love for all his creation. Through his suffering, we have redemption. Through his death, we are forgiven of our sins. Through his Resurrection, we have hope of eternal life. On Easter morning, the stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty, and light prevails over darkness — signaling that death does not have the final word.
This Holy Week, my administration renews its promise to defend the Christian faith in our schools, military, workplaces, hospitals and halls of government. We will never waver in safeguarding the right to religious liberty, upholding the dignity of life, and protecting God in our public square.
As we focus on Christ’s redeeming sacrifice, we look to his love, humility and obedience — even in life’s most difficult and uncertain moments. This week, we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our beloved nation. We pray that America will remain a beacon of faith, hope and freedom for the entire world, and we pray to achieve a future that reflects the truth, beauty and goodness of Christ’s eternal kingdom in heaven.
May God bless you and your family during this special time of year and may he continue to bless the United States of America.
On Wednesday, April 16, the president co-hosted a Holy Week dinner in the White House for carefully selected guests, including Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas; Franklin Graham, head of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; and several Pentecostal pastors, among others. Musical performances were given by Christian singer Charles Billingsley and the U.S. Marine Corps Band.
Paula White, senior adviser to the president, later acknowledged that most of what Trump read had been prepared for him, but that he had improved on it.
Before dinner, the president read the declaration, at times seeming to struggle with some of the language. Paula White, senior adviser to the president and head of the White House Faith Office — which Trump has located in spacious quarters in the West Wing — later acknowledged that most of what Trump read had been prepared for him, but that he had improved on it, presumably referring to several asides. These included a reminder that he had won 88% of the evangelical vote in last year’s election, and wishing it had been 90%.
Trump also gave attendees a tour of the White House, including the family quarters and the Lincoln Bedroom.
On Easter Day, April 20, President Trump wrote the following on his Truth Social platform:
Happy Easter to all, including the Radical Left Lunatics who are fighting and scheming so hard to bring Murderers, Drug Lords, Dangerous Prisoners, the Mentally Insane, and well-known MS-13 Gang Members and Wife Beaters, back into our Country. Happy Easter also to the WEAK and INEFFECTIVE Judges and Law Enforcement Officials who are allowing this sinister attack on our Nation to continue, an attack so violent that it will never be forgotten! Sleepy Joe Biden purposefully allowed Millions of CRIMINALS to enter our Country, totally unvetted and unchecked, through an Open Borders Policy that will go down in history as the single most calamitous act ever perpetrated upon America. He was, by far, our WORST and most incompetent President, a man who had absolutely no idea what he was doing – But to him, and to the person that ran and manipulated the Auto Pen (perhaps our REAL President!), and to all of the people who CHEATED in the 2020 Presidential Election in order to get this highly destructive Moron Elected, I wish you, with great love, sincerity, and affection, a very Happy Easter!!!
The message was posted as the president was on his way to play a round of golf at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Va.
Two questions arise:
Will the real Donald Trump please stand up?
And will his Christian apologists please apologize?
Stan Hastey served as Baptist Press Washington bureau chief during the presidencies of Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan and covered the three inaugurations of the 39th and 40th presidents.
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