As the U.S. celebrated Juneteenth this year, President Trump made headlines—not for commemorating the holiday, but for complaining about too many federal holidays.
His remarks sparked criticism, especially since he barely acknowledged Juneteenth itself, a holiday he once claimed to have made “famous.”
President Slams Excessive Holidays on Truth Social
Instead of celebrating the historical significance of Juneteenth, Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday night to air his frustration.
He argued that America is burdened with too many non-working holidays, which he says are costing the country billions of dollars.
“Too many non-working holidays in America,” Trump posted.
“It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed. The workers don’t want it either!”
He even suggested that if things continue this way, we might end up with a holiday for nearly every workday, closing his post with a familiar rallying cry: “It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
No Mention of Juneteenth This Time
Trump’s post didn’t mention Juneteenth by name—something that didn’t go unnoticed.
For a holiday that honors the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, and one Trump himself used to publicly recognize, the silence felt loud.
While reporters asked whether the president had any plans to issue a formal statement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded, “I’m not tracking his signature on a proclamation today.”
She added, “We are certainly here. We’re working 24/7 right now,” subtly acknowledging the federal holiday.
A Holiday With Deep Historical Roots
Juneteenth marks the day—June 19, 1865—when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and finally delivered the news of freedom to enslaved people, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed.
It’s also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, and it has been celebrated by Black Americans for generations.
The holiday became official at the federal level in 2021 under President Biden, but it had long held significance in African American communities nationwide.
Trump’s Past Juneteenth Statements Paint a Different Picture
Back when he was president, Trump acknowledged Juneteenth each year from 2017 to 2020.
His official statements recognized the pain of slavery and the triumph of emancipation.
In 2018, he wrote: “Together, we honor the unbreakable spirit and countless contributions of generations of African Americans to the story of American greatness.”
His 2020 message was perhaps the most striking: “June reminds us of both the unimaginable injustice of slavery and the incomparable joy that must have attended emancipation.”
The Tulsa Rally That Sparked Outrage
But 2020 also brought a major controversy. Trump chose Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a campaign rally shortly after the COVID-19 lockdowns—and scheduled it for June 19.
That decision triggered widespread backlash.
Tulsa was the site of the horrific 1921 race massacre, where a white mob destroyed the prosperous Black neighborhood known as Black Wall Street, killing up to 300 Black residents.
Critics said the decision to hold a rally in that location, on that date, was tone-deaf at best. Trump eventually moved the rally and attempted to recast the moment as positive spin: “I made it famous.
I made Juneteenth very famous,” he said at the time.
A Holiday Once “Unknown,” According to Trump
In his attempt to defend the move, Trump claimed that few people had heard of Juneteenth before he brought attention to it.
“It’s actually an important event, it’s an important time,” he said.
“But nobody had heard of it. Very few people have heard of it.”
That assertion, of course, ignored the generations of Black Americans who have been observing the day for decades—long before it became a national holiday.
Biden’s Contrast: Concerts, Proclamations, and Celebration
Since taking office, President Biden has leaned into Juneteenth as a celebration of progress and resilience.
He’s issued proclamations annually, and in recent years, the White House has hosted celebratory events on the South Lawn.
In 2024, musical icons like Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle performed at the Juneteenth celebration.
Vice President Kamala Harris even joined gospel singer Kirk Franklin on stage in a moment that drew widespread praise.
Trump Doubles Down on DEI Opposition
While Biden has embraced Juneteenth and diversity-focused programs, Trump has gone in the opposite direction.
He has signed broad orders aimed at ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies, calling them “illegal and immoral discrimination programs.”
This sharp policy divergence further deepens the political divide around racial justice and how America chooses to remember its past.
A Holiday That Deserves More Than a Footnote
Juneteenth is more than a day off—it’s a symbol of freedom, justice, and the long road toward equality.
And while presidents past and present continue to shape how it’s acknowledged, the meaning of the day remains deeply personal for many Americans.
As the country reflects, questions remain about how leaders choose to honor—or ignore—history.