In a last-minute proclamation on Monday, President Donald Trump finally recognised Martin Luther King Jr. Day, hailing the civil rights leader’s “extraordinary resolve” and “commitment to justice.” However, this came only after hours of Trump’s social media posts railing against alleged election fraud and immigration enforcement actions.
The White House’s official proclamation, which was emailed to The Update Desk at 8:15 pm, stated: “Today, we honor the noble work of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose commitment to justice paved the way to the full realization of the American promise.” This came in stark contrast to Trump’s earlier posts on Truth Social, where he had complained about “rigged elections” and demanded “voter I.D.”
The delayed recognition breaks a decades-long tradition of US presidents celebrating the federal holiday honouring the iconic civil rights activist. Since Ronald Reagan first signed the King Holiday Bill into law in 1983, every president for the last four decades has marked the occasion, including Trump himself during his first term.
However, this year’s observance was marked by Trump’s absence from any official White House events. Instead, he spent the holiday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida before attending the National College Football Championship in Miami.
The president’s initial lack of acknowledgement drew criticism from many on social media, with one user asking: “Is anyone surprised?” Another commented: “Trump is the complete opposite of Martin Luther King Jr., & his actions go against absolutely everything that MLK fought so hard to achieve.”
Under the Trump administration, the National Park Service also announced it would no longer offer free admission on MLK Day and Juneteenth, replacing them with Flag Day and the president’s birthday. California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned this move, saying his state would not be “following that path.”
Members of the King family have also spoken out against the Trump administration’s efforts to “erase or rewrite parts of American history, especially Black history and the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement.” Martin Luther King III told Axios there has been a “coordinated effort” to do so since Trump returned to office.
The delayed recognition and Trump’s past comments questioning the impact of civil rights protections have further strained the relationship between the president and the legacy of the iconic civil rights leader.
