On June 19, 2023, Juneteenth, a significant holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States, went unacknowledged by President Donald Trump, a stark departure from his previous four years in office.
Previously, Trump had embraced the holiday even before it became a federal observance in 2021, once claiming that he helped make Juneteenth ‘very famous.’
This year, however, there were no remarks from Trump on social media, no official proclamations, and no public appearances relating to the date.
When asked if Trump would recognize Juneteenth, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, ‘I’m not tracking his signature on a proclamation today.’
She added, ‘This is a federal holiday. I want to thank all of you for showing up to work. We are certainly here. We’re working 24/7 right now.’
In response to queries about whether Trump would commemorate the day later, Leavitt reiterated that she had answered the question, leaving ambiguity about any future acknowledgment.
On the eve of Juneteenth, a meeting took place at the White House with community leaders from the Black community, senior Trump administration officials, and others revolving around enhancing collaboration at various governmental levels.
This meeting, which included Housing Secretary Scott Turner and Lynne Patton, director of minority outreach, was described by an official who wished to remain anonymous.
Trump’s lack of recognition for Juneteenth this year marked a significant shift from his previous statements on the holiday, which celebrates June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved Black individuals in the U.S. were informed of their freedom in Galveston, Texas.
This event occurred more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, which aimed to liberate enslaved individuals in the Confederacy during the Civil War.
In contrast to this year’s silence, Trump’s earlier observances of Juneteenth included heartfelt messages emphasizing the holiday’s importance.
His 2017 statement highlighted ‘the soulful festivities and emotional rejoicing’ surrounding the announcement made in Galveston.
In subsequent years, he reiterated themes of honoring the spirit and contributions of African Americans, calling it a celebration of resilience and progress.
By 2020, Trump’s reflection on Juneteenth captured both the horror of slavery and the joy of emancipation, emphasizing the nation’s ability to overcome its historical injustices.
That year stood out notably due to the controversy surrounding a planned campaign rally on the same day in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Critics chastised Trump for scheduling the event in Tulsa, given its historical significance as the site of the 1921 massacre of Black residents, which occurred in an area known as Black Wall Street.
After facing backlash, Trump changed the rally date by one day, claiming respect for two of his African American friends and supporters.
At that time, he controversially suggested he had raised awareness of Juneteenth, stating, ‘I made it famous.’
He went on to say that it was an important observance that many people were previously unaware of.
Historically, Juneteenth has been a long-celebrated occasion among generations of Black Americans long before it was officially recognized as a federal holiday.
Following the cancellation of his planned rally and subsequent electoral defeat, Trump sowed hopes among Black voters during his campaign by proposing the idea of establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
Though he lost the 2020 election, this proposal eventually resulted in President Joe Biden signing into law the establishment of Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
In sharp contrast to Trump’s reticence, Biden has issued annual Juneteenth proclamations during his term, celebrating the occasion with grand public events.
Biden’s observances have included concerts on the South Lawn featuring prominent artists, while this year he commemorated Juneteenth in Galveston with a address at a historic African Methodist Episcopal church.
Trump, on the other hand, focused his social media commentary on other topics, including foreign affairs with Iran and discussions about the economy, vocalizing concerns about federal holidays, claiming they cost the country billions.
Most businesses, however, remained open on Juneteenth while many federal workers received a day off, aligning with typical federal holiday observance practices.
While Trump remained silent about the significance of Juneteenth this year, his contrasting attendance and recognition of such events in previous years adds another layer of complexity to the dialogue surrounding this pivotal event in American history.
As both public and private sectors reflect on the importance of Juneteenth, Trump’s current stance raises questions about his continued engagement with issues affecting the Black community and how he chooses to address the legacy of slavery in America.
image source from：wusa9
