President Donald Trump participated in a White House event today to celebrate Greek Independence Day, joined by representatives from Greek-American organizations and church officials.
The Trump administration has maintained strong ties with the Greek-American community. Upon taking the podium, Trump addressed the audience, saying, “I love you all.” His remark was followed by a warm greeting of the Greek and Cypriot ambassadors to Washington.
Trump went on to praise the contributions of Greek-Americans in his administration, saying, “The world wasn’t going well, but now with our administration, everything is getting better—I want to thank the Greek-Americans working in my administration, they are amazing people.”
He also acknowledged the enduring legacy of the Greek-American community, adding, “The greatest legacy of Greece’s independence is the large Greek-American community, which now numbers three million.”
The president highlighted the importance of groups like “Greeks for Trump” and individuals such as Chris Marafatsos and Rep. Gus Bilirakis, noting their continued support.
Archbishop Elpidophoros of America also participated in the Greek Independence Day event at the White House, congratulating Trump on his election victory and comparing him to Emperor Constantine the Great, a revered figure in Greek Orthodox tradition. The archbishop presented Trump with a gold cross, symbolizing the connection between the American president and the legacy of Constantine the Great, who, after a divine vision of the Christian cross, is said to have been inspired by the phrase ‘In this sign, conquer’ (Εν τούτῳ νίκα).
Trump introduced Kimberly Guilfoyle, the next U.S. Ambassador to Greece, calling her “a very good person” and stating, “I want to tell you she perfectly represents Greek culture.” Guilfoyle then spoke, praising the president’s leadership and expressing her commitment to strengthening ties with Greece. “It is the honor of my life to serve in a country that I hold dear to my heart, and to do so under the guidance and leadership of the most important and powerful president this country has ever seen—a man of dignity. I know his love for the people of Greece,” she said.
In closing, Trump reflected on his day, noting he had a busy schedule but rearranged his commitments to attend the event. “When I learned I had to attend a Greek Independence Day event, I had them cancel something else,” he said.
At the end of the event, Trump signed a proclamation declaring March 25 as “Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy,” a tradition held annually at the White House to honor the historic ties between Greece and the United States.
