President Donald Trump marked Thanksgiving this year with a message that immediately drew national attention. Instead of focusing on unity or reflection, he issued a strong statement on immigration through two early-morning posts on Truth Social. In them, he said he plans to “permanently pause migration from all Third World countries” as part of what he described as an effort to “restore” the United States.

He claimed this suspension would help the immigration system “recover” and reduce what he called “illegal admissions,” though he provided no details on how such broad measures would be implemented. Thanksgiving messages from U.S. presidents typically highlight gratitude and togetherness, but Trump’s remarks took a more political tone. In one post, he offered holiday wishes to Americans while linking his message to concerns about national security and immigration.

He ended with a sharp statement aimed at what he described as individuals who harm or undermine the country, creating further discussion about the tone and timing of his comments. Reactions to the posts were split along familiar lines. Supporters viewed the message as a clear reaffirmation of his policy priorities, while critics said it was divisive for a day usually centered on unity. Some also noted that the message follows a recent period of heightened political tensions.

As the holiday unfolded, Trump’s Thanksgiving posts became another example of how closely the nation watches statements from its leaders. Whether seen as political strategy or strong opinion, the message reflected the ongoing debate about immigration and the broader question of how Americans define unity during challenging times.