Trump’s Silence on Juneteenth Contrasts With Past Observances

Former President Donald Trump notably remained silent regarding Juneteenth this year, diverging from his previous actions of acknowledging the holiday. This year’s silence, especially in light of his past proclamations and actions, has drawn significant attention and raised questions about his current stance.

A Shift in Tone

Throughout his initial four years as president, Trump marked Juneteenth, even before it became a federal holiday. He once even claimed to have made it “very famous.” However, this year marked a change: he did not issue any statements on the holiday, nor did he mention it on his social media platform. The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, stated that she was not tracking a proclamation signing, offering no further explanation for the absence.

On Wednesday, a meeting at the White House brought together Black community leaders and senior administration figures. Scott Turner and Lynne Patton were present, among others, according to a senior White House official who desired anonymity.

A Holiday’s History

The Juneteenth holiday, celebrated on June 19th, marks the end of slavery in the United States. It commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers shared the news of freedom with enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas. This declaration came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War.

Trump held no public events Thursday, but he shared statements about Iran and the Fed chairman, Jerome Powell, on his social media platform. He later complained about “too many non-working holidays,” claiming they cost the country billions of dollars. Notably, most retailers stay open on Juneteenth, while federal workers are given a day off.

Past Statements and Actions

During his first term, Trump made yearly statements about Juneteenth. In 2017, he spoke of the “soulful festivities and emotional rejoicing” in Galveston. He continued to share this story in the following three years. His 2018 statement added that they “honor the unbreakable spirit and countless contributions of generations of African Americans.”

In 2019, Trump stated that the contributions of African Americans “enrich every facet of American life.” In 2020, he wrote, “June reminds us of both the unimaginable injustice of slavery and the incomparable joy that must have attended emancipation. It is both a remembrance of a blight on our history and a celebration of our Nation’s unsurpassed ability to triumph over darkness.”

Originally, Trump had scheduled a 2020 rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 19. However, the event was postponed due to criticism regarding the date and location. The city was the site of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, where a white mob destroyed the thriving Greenwood district, known as Black Wall Street.

In an interview, Trump claimed he had made Juneteenth “famous.” He said he rescheduled the rally out of respect for two African American friends. He lost the election later that year. Joe Biden, after becoming president, established Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Subsequently, Trump signed an executive order ending diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across the federal government.

Biden issued annual Juneteenth proclamations. This year, Biden spent the holiday in Galveston, Texas, where he was slated to give a speech at a historic African Methodist Episcopal church. According to the Pew Research Center, in 2023, 71% of U.S. adults were aware of Juneteenth, up from 37% in 2016 (Pew Research Center 2023).