President Donald Trump criticized the number of “non-working holidays” in the United States on Juneteenth, a federal holiday, stating that they cost the country billions of dollars and are not desired by workers. Trump expressed his concerns on social media, suggesting that America might end up with a holiday for every working day if the trend continues. Juneteenth, the oldest regular US celebration of the end of slavery, commemorates the day Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger informed slaves in Texas of their freedom in 1865. Despite Juneteenth becoming an official federal holiday in 2021 under President Joe Biden’s administration, Trump did not indicate any plans to mark the occasion.

Trump had previously promised to make Juneteenth a federal holiday during his 2020 campaign but has since focused on eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in his administration. Trump’s criticism of non-working holidays and his stance on DEI programs have been key aspects of his post-reelection agenda. Notably, Trump has attempted to take credit for popularizing Juneteenth, referring to it as “very famous” in 2020 despite civil unrest following George Floyd’s death. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned that Trump was unlikely to issue a proclamation for the federal holiday, emphasizing the administration’s focus on continuous work efforts. Trump’s approach to holidays and DEI initiatives reflects his ongoing policy priorities and approach to governance.