Cities and towns across America mark the season with long-standing Christmas traditions, including the annual lighting of community Christmas trees.
But in Portland, the city’s official celebration avoided mentioning Christmas altogether. The event was billed simply as a “tree lighting ceremony” and quickly shifted into political messaging, including chants of “Free Palestine.”
The City of Portland and local media outlets are calling this “The Tree” because they despise Christians like me and many of you so much they can’t bring themselves to say the word “Christmas.”
Friends, I’m reclaiming this tree and it is HEREBY the Portland CHRISTMAS Tree 🎄✝️ pic.twitter.com/OPq78JxV6p
— David Medina 🦫🇺🇸 (@davidmedinapdx) November 30, 2025
The program opened with a representative from the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, who thanked attendees for gathering on Native American Heritage Day. She then introduced a woman wrapped in a Palestinian flag, who immediately led the crowd in a “Free Palestine” chant. According to the New York Post, she told the audience:
“This is the perfect time to bring this up. There are a lot of genocides going on.”
She then called out, “Can I get a ‘Free, free Palestine?’” — and part of the crowd responded.
😵💫WHY DOES everything have to be so DIVISIVE??!! Portland Christmas Tree lighting…. #pdx #portlandISNOTfine pic.twitter.com/nRq6fBB7jD
— Oregon Citizen (@oregoncitizen_) November 29, 2025
Portland is mentally-ill woke & retarded. They won’t say “Christmas” but they can use Christmas event to lecture “free Palestine.” And this is why any MAGA who takes side of Palestine is a moron. You’re on the side of vile woke communist retards. https://t.co/mEVX6WeVbc
— Wayne Root – Wayne Allyn Root – TV & Radio Host (@RealWayneRoot) December 1, 2025
Nearly an hour later, Mayor Keith Wilson took the stage, eventually bringing out Santa Claus and other city representatives before turning on the 10,000 lights decorating the 75-foot tree.
Local outlet Oregon Live referred to the event only as a “holiday tree” tradition.
The omission of the word “Christmas” at what has traditionally been a Christmas celebration drew swift criticism. Commentator Wayne Allyn Root remarked, “They won’t say ‘Christmas,’ but they can use a Christmas event to lecture ‘Free Palestine.’”