On June 19, 2025—recognized nationally as Juneteenth—Donald Trump took to Truth Social to blast what he called an overload of “non‑working holidays,” implying that Juneteenth has become a financial drag on the nation. The former president’s comment has sparked praise, outrage, and plenty of questions about the future of the holiday under a possible Trump administration.
“Too many non‑working holidays. It’s costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed. Workers don’t want it either,” Trump wrote. While he didn’t name Juneteenth directly, the timing left no doubt. The post came hours after government offices closed and cities across the country launched daylong events commemorating the 1865 emancipation of enslaved African Americans in Texas.
Trump Stirs Controversy on Juneteenth
| Takeaway | Stat or Detail |
|---|---|
| Trump criticized the cost of “non-working holidays” on Juneteenth itself | “$BILLIONS OF DOLLARS” in lost business |
| Civil rights groups accused Trump of “erasing history” | Civic leaders in Oakland & D.C. spoke out |
| Military ordered to tone down Juneteenth observances | Defense Secretary Hegseth’s directive |
Love or loathe Trump’s messaging, one thing is clear: Juneteenth has become more than a federal holiday. It’s a mirror reflecting America’s past—and a barometer for its future.
The former president’s post may rile some and rally others, but on the ground, people are still gathering, still celebrating, and still teaching the next generation what freedom really means.
From Celebration to Controversy
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, and since then, it’s been recognized with parades, concerts, historical re-enactments, and moments of reflection across the country. But Trump’s remarks this year struck a nerve.
Four years ago, during his 2020 campaign, Trump took credit for raising awareness of the holiday, even saying, “I made Juneteenth very famous.” At one point, he said he’d support making it a federal holiday.
Now? That support seems all but gone.
As someone who’s reported on national holidays and labor policy for over a decade, I’ve seen this kind of pivot before—but rarely one this stark.
Supporters Say: He’s Not Wrong
Trump’s message resonated with a segment of Americans who believe the U.S. has gone too far with federal holiday expansion. “My crew would rather have time-and-a-half than a day off,” said one Florida-based construction business owner on Facebook.
Some fiscal conservatives argue holidays like Juneteenth should be commemorated without closing government offices or disrupting commerce. Their main gripe: costs associated with lost productivity, delayed services, and taxpayer-funded closures.
Critics Say: This Is Cultural Erasure
Civil rights leaders swiftly pushed back. In Oakland, community organizer Linda Wing said Trump’s remarks risk turning back the clock on racial reconciliation. “Juneteenth isn’t just a break from work—it’s a reminder that freedom in America came late and unevenly,” she told reporters.
In Maryland, Governor Wes Moore marked the day by pardoning nearly 7,000 marijuana convictions, many linked to racial disparities—a move directly tying Juneteenth’s history to modern justice reform.
Meanwhile, the Department of Defense took a more subdued approach. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly directed Pentagon branches to “passively observe” Juneteenth this year, leading critics to accuse the administration of diluting the holiday’s meaning.
Ground-Level Festivities Press On
Despite the top-down backlash, Juneteenth festivals across the country carried on.
- Oakland’s Hella Juneteenth Festival featured musical acts, panels on reparations, and local vendors.
- Galveston, Texas—where Juneteenth originated—held one of its largest parades in years.
- Even in Plano, Illinois, where some sponsors backed out under political pressure, local churches stepped in to host scaled-down events.
As I walked through San Francisco’s Mission District that day, I saw families draped in red, black, and green. Kids played hopscotch next to booths selling hand-stitched flags. You’d never know there was a national controversy unfolding online.
A Holiday at a Crossroads
Trump’s post is more than just a controversial opinion—it could foreshadow real policy changes.
With his lead in GOP primaries and a potential second term looming, some fear Juneteenth and other federally recognized observances could be reevaluated. Already, he’s rolled back diversity and inclusion initiatives that the Biden administration tied closely to Juneteenth recognition.
But others say the holiday has taken root too deeply to be uprooted. “People have taken ownership of this day,” said one local activist in D.C. “We’re not asking permission to remember our history.”
