Portland hosts 'tree lighting ceremony' without mention of Christmas, speakers chant 'free Palestine'

What has historically been celebrated as Portland’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony took a different tone Friday night, drawing fierce criticism for removing nearly all references to Christmas while platforming political activism, including a Palestinian flag and chants of “Free, free Palestine” from the main stage.

The event at Pioneer Courthouse Square, officially branded only as “Portland’s 41st Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony,” featured a 75-foot Douglas-fir covered in thousands of LED lights, a visit from Santa Claus, and the usual holiday cheer. Yet neither the city’s advertisements, social-media posts, nor most onstage speakers ever uttered the word “Christmas.”
 

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