Updated
Join Fox News for access to this content
Plus special access to select articles and other premium content with your account - free of charge.
Please enter a valid email address.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis slammed President Biden for denying he declared March 31, the same day as Easter Sunday this year, as "Transgender Day of Visibility."

When asked about his official White House proclamation, Biden said he "didn't do that," prompting DeSantis to suggest the president's denial raises questions about who is running the White House.

"Wait a minute, he said that didn't happen, he said he didn't do that," DeSantis exclaimed during an appearance at the Greater Miami Expressway Agency on Monday. "Which raises the question that he's either not being honest with the public or he really didn't know what was going on." 

DeSantis went on to call out President Biden and ask who is actually running our country.

BIDEN SAYS HE 'DIDN'T DO THAT' WHEN ASKED ABOUT EASTER BEING 'TRANS VISIBILITY DAY,' DESPITE PROCLAMATION

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and President Joe Biden (L)

DeSantis slams President Biden over denying 'Trans Visibility Day' proclamation.

"Who's running the presidency? Is it a bunch of woke, 20-something-year-old White House staffers? So I don't know whose in charge. The fact that he's not owning up to it - either way, it's bad," DeSantis said.

DeSantis also shared how he celebrated Easter with his family, emphasizing the importance of the sacred holiday.

"It's the most important, for Christians, holiday on the calendar. And you know what Biden did, you know, I think was ridiculous, but it does raise the issue," DeSantis said.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for the White House downplayed the president's comments, noting that he didn't choose March 31 as the date for Transgender Day of Visibility. 

Since 2021, when Biden took office, the White House has issued the same proclamation on March 31 every year. 

Biden and the first lady with two giant Easter bunnies

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden are shown at the annual Easter Egg Roll held on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 10, 2023. Biden denied that he declared March 31 as "Transgender Day of Visibility." (Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

"President Biden is right. He did nothing in conflict with the ‘tenets’ of Easter, which he celebrated yesterday. Nor did he choose the date of March 31 for Transgender Day of Visibility, which has been set since 2009," White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in an email.

In addition to the Transgender Day of Visibility proclamation, the White House simultaneously issued a flurry of other proclamations, including Cesar Chavez Day, National Donate Life Month, National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month, Arab American Heritage Month and Care Workers Recognition Month.

MAGIC'S JONATHAN ISAAC CRITICIZES WHITE HOUSE OVER TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY

President Biden's Transgender Day of Visibility proclamation generated widespread outrage among Christians, who characterized its timing with Easter as disrespectful. 

Orlando Magic star Jonathan Isaac joined in on ripping the president, saying on X, formerly Twitter, the White House "know[s] exactly what they are doing."

"They want you to hate! This helps no one and only promotes division," he wrote. "They know exactly what they are doing… we should be angry but shouldn’t lose the spirit of what tomorrow means! Don’t lose focus. Because He is risen there is hope for all."

DC ARCHBISHOP JABS BIDEN AS 'CAFETERIA CATHOLIC' WHO 'PICKS AND CHOOSES' FOR HIS 'POLITICAL ADVANTAGE'

Easter, Transgender Day of Visibility

A handful of liberal churches, religious groups and LGBTQ+ organizations are celebrating the fact that Transgender Day of Visibility, which is now recognized each year on March 31, falls on Easter Sunday in 2024. (Getty Images)

"I am absolutely disgusted that Joe Biden has declared the most Holy of Holy days - a self proclaimed devout Catholic - as Transgender Day of Visibility. The only thing you should be declaring on this day is ‘HE is Risen’.," Caitlyn Jenner wrote on X.

The White House also announced that it was banning National Guard children from submitting Easter egg designs that include "questionable content, religious symbols, overtly religious themes, or partisan political statements," for the Easter Egg Roll event. 

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"The art contest is a tradition at the White House Easter Egg Roll however the Catholic president doesn't want to see anything religious-themed," Co-Owner of Trending Politics, Collin Rugg wrote on X.

Fox News Digital's Ryan Morik, Thomas Catenacci, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Haley Chi-Sing, and Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.