Donald Trump and Melania attend Baptist church on Christmas Eve

Donald and Melania Trump attended the Family Church-Downtown in West Palm Beach on Tuesday night, spending their Christmas Eve at the Baptist chapel.

‘Merry Christmas everyone,’ the president said when he arrived.

The first couple sat in the third row of the church, listening as church members sang Christmas carols like ‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful’ and ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.’

The president sat in the third row of the Baptist church

In past years, the Trumps have attended service at Bethesda by the Sea, an Evangelical church near Mar-a-Lago, on the Christmas and Easter holidays.

The Family Church is a Baptist Church, the same faith as Rev. Jerry Falwell, who visited the Trumps at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend.  

Falwell and his wife were spotted mingling with the Trumps Friday night in pictures posted on social media. 

The president embraced Falwell after getting into a feud with the publishers of a prominent Evangelical Christian magazine founded by the legendary pastor Billy Graham.

Falwell defended Trump in the fallout from the feud.

The reverend went on ‘Fox and Friends’ – the president’s favorite morning show – and said he found the magazine’s remarks ‘hypocritical,’ adding it shows there is an ‘elite establishment among the religious community.’ 

‘I think it’s hypocritical,’ Falwell said. ‘I think it’s ironic also that Christianity Today, sort of a forgotten magazine from yesteryear, took the opportunity the week before Christmas to point out the difference between true Christianity and Pharisaical or judgmental Christianity and reminded us there is an elite establishment among the religious community just like there is in the government that’s liberal, that’s left-wing. And it’s a group that — they think they are more moral and smarter than the rest of us.’ 

The Trumps were greeted at the church Tuesday night by Lead Pastor Jimmy Scroggins, his wife Kristin, and their son and daughter-in-law, James and Reilly. 

In addition to a variety of Christmas songs being sung, the first couple heard the story of the birth of Jesus from gospel of Luke.  

President Donald Trump is greeted by Lead Pastor Jimmy Scroggins and his wife Kristin upon arriving at Family Church for Christmas Eve mass with first lady Melania Trump

Trump poses with Jerry Falwell Jr, Falwell’s wife Becki (left) and Kimberly Guilfoyle at Mar-a-Lago on Friday night

Before the first couple left Mar-a-Largo, first lady Melania Trump called into NORAD’s Santa Tracker to wish children a Merry Christmas.

‘She spoke with several children from across the country and heard many of the items on their Christmas lists’. Mrs. Trump reminded the kids to put milk and cookies out for Santa, and wished each child and their families a very Merry Christmas,’ White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement. 

President Trump spent his afternoon at his Trump International Golf Course. 

In the morning, he called U.S. troops to thank them for their service and wish them a Merry Christmas. 

Trump’s change in Christmas Eve churches came after he feuded with a prominent evangelical Christian magazine.

The president said on Friday Christianity Today, founded in 1956, has become a ‘far left’ periodical. The magazine’s top editor wrote in an editorial published Thursday that the president should be removed from office because he has ‘dumbed down the idea of morality.’  

Trump thanked Franklin Graham, son of its legendary evangelical founder Billy Graham, for saying his father voted for the president before his death. 

‘Thank you to Franklin Graham for stating that his father, the late great Billy Graham, voted for me in the 2016 Election. I know how pleased you are with the work we have all done together!’

Billy Graham, the famed revival preacher, died in 2018. Franklin Graham disclosed his father’s voting preference in a Facebook post on Friday.

Trump noted that Christianity Today is no longer affiliated with the Graham ministries. He also claimed he has been a better partner for Bible-believing Christians—and predicted tough times for the born-again if a Democrat beats him in 2020.