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OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
5:52 PM – Wednesday, February 18, 2026
President Donald Trump released a White House message in observance of Ash Wednesday, a solemn Christian and Catholic holiday marking the beginning of the Lenten season.
Trump said he and First Lady Melania Trump joined millions in the United States and around the world to recognize the holiday on Wednesday.
“Every Ash Wednesday, Christians receive ashes in the shape of a cross on their foreheads as a visible reminder of our belonging to Jesus Christ and our enduring need for penance,” the president explained, referring to the Catholic concept of acknowledging and atoning for one’s sins. “For the next 40 days, in remembrance of Jesus’ 40 days of temptation in the desert, followers of Christ will pray, fast, and give alms to deepen their faith, reflect on His redeeming Passion and death, and prepare their hearts for the coming Easter miracle.”
In the liturgical calendar, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and continues for 40 days, not including Sundays, leading up to Easter. The season is modeled after Jesus’ 40 days of fasting in the wilderness.
Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, commemorating Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem ahead of His crucifixion and resurrection. In many Christian traditions, palm branches from the previous year’s Palm Sunday are burned to create the ashes used for Ash Wednesday services.
Trump emphasized the significance of Lent’s calls for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, which have long been part of American tradition.
“From the Colonists who turned to prayer and fasting in the heart of the Revolutionary War to the unmatched compassion and generosity of America’s churches, hospitals, and charitable institutions, these righteous acts of faith over the centuries have always stood at the center of our identity, our heritage, and our way of life,” he wrote.
The president’s statement concluded with a reference to Mark 1:15, the verse in which Jesus began His public ministry and called people to repentance.
“This Ash Wednesday, as we remember the Passion and ultimate sacrifice of Christ on the cross, we send our best wishes for a meaningful Lenten season,” Trump said. “Above all, as we prepare for the triumphant resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday—the greatest miracle in the history of mankind—we pause to remember those sacred words: ‘This is the time of fulfillment. The Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.’”
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