Trump Honors Greek Independence Day at White House Event

The White House is hosting the authoritative solemnisation of Greek Independence Day, underscoring the heavy ties betwixt Greece and the US. Credit: Flickr / Trump White House Archived. Public Domain. Photo by Myles Cullen

US President Donald Trump hosted a peculiar White House lawsuit connected Thursday night, March 26, 2026, to people Greek Independence Day, welcoming Greek-American assemblage leaders, elder Orthodox Church officials, and US officials for a solemnisation of the enduring narration betwixt the United States and Greece.

The event, held successful a packed country that included representatives of the Greek diaspora, Archbishop Elpidophoros, and US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, highlighted the heavy historical, cultural, and strategical ties betwixt the 2 countries.

Trump opened the evening connected a lukewarm note, telling attendees, “It is simply a large grant to beryllium present tonight. I would not miss it for anything,” earlier wishing Greeks a “Happy Independence Day.”

Trump praises Greece’s antiauthoritarian and taste legacy

Placing the day successful a broader humanities context, Trump said, “When America declared its independency 250 years ago, the Greeks did the same. Since then, the United States and Greek ideology person stood broadside by broadside and guided Western culture.”

He went connected to praise Greece’s enduring publication to civilization and American governmental thought. “We beryllium the Greeks truthful much,” helium said. “Americans larn astir Socrates, Aristotle, and the bravery of the Spartans.”

Trump besides pointed to the antiauthoritarian bequest of past Athens, saying, “In the bosom of past Athens, the Greeks did what we privation to bash too: lone citizens should beryllium capable to vote.”

He further emphasized the power of Greek civilization and plan connected the United States. “I person declared my emotion for ancient Greek civilization and architecture,” helium said, adding that American nine has drawn inspiration from “the unthinkable architects” of Greece.

Greek-American assemblage successful the spotlight

Turning to the Greek-American community, Trump referenced Astoria, 1 of the best-known centers of Greek beingness successful New York. “I cognize a batch astir Astoria. In Queens, the Greeks person thing truthful special. There is thing similar the Greek spirit.”

He besides highlighted the rebuilt St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church astatine Ground Zero, recalling that it had been destroyed successful the September 11 attacks and aboriginal reconstructed. “You cognize that aft the onslaught of September 11, the Greek religion was destroyed, but it was rebuilt bigger than before. The marble utilized is the aforesaid arsenic that of the Parthenon,” Trump said.

Returning to Greece’s wider planetary legacy, helium added, “Without Athens, we could not person the Olympic Games. Today, we observe relationship with Greece and practice with the Americans who privation to marque America large again.”

At 1 constituent during the event, Trump besides publically praised Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle, inviting her guardant and saying, “You are the best. Everybody loves you. Come basal adjacent to us.”

Archbishop Elpidophoros stresses strategical ties

Archbishop Elpidophoros past took the floor, underscoring not lone the symbolic value of the juncture but besides the strategical narration betwixt the 2 countries. “You bash the Greek assemblage a large grant by celebrating March 25,” helium said.

“This grant binds Greece and the United States successful a strategical confederation with communal respect and extends to practice connected issues of vigor and strategy. Greece is the harbinger of democracy, conscionable arsenic America is.”

He besides thanked Trump for his stance connected Cyprus, saying, “We convey you for your enactment connected the Cyprus issue. In each the churches, we commune for each the equipped forces.”

Event Closes With Prayer of Saint Basil

As the lawsuit drew to a close, Archbishop Elpidophoros referred to the transverse helium had presented to Trump the erstwhile twelvemonth and said helium would present connection thing different.

“Everyone is wondering what I volition connection you aft the transverse I presented to you past year. I volition adjacent with a peculiar supplication that we accidental each Sunday earlier Easter: the Prayer of Saint Basil.”

Proclamation highlights shared antiauthoritarian values

The themes of the evening were besides reflected successful a proclamation issued earlier this week, which stressed the principles that proceed to hindrance the United States and Greece, including liberty, self-government, and nationalist sovereignty.

The papers described some countries arsenic linked by a shared past of conflict for state and a lasting committedness to antiauthoritarian ideals, reinforcing the connection astatine the bosom of the White House celebration.