WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday railed against the number of holidays in the U.S. in which people do not have to work, arguing it is costing the country money and calling for a change. 

The evening post came on the federal holiday of Juneteenth, which was created just four years ago to commemorate the end of slavery in America and did not appear to be officially recognized by the president this year. 


What You Need To Know

  • President Donald Trump on Thursday railed against the number of holidays in the U.S. in which people do not have to work, arguing it is costing the country money and calling for a change
  • The evening post came on the federal holiday of Juneteenth, which was created just four years ago to commemorate the end of slavery in America and did not appear to be officially recognized by the president this year
  • Trump issued statements to mark the day before it was a federal holiday in each of his four years in office during his first term – and even once in 2020 asserting that he made it “famous”
  • In his second term, Trump has sought to crack down on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the federal government

“Too many non-working holidays in America,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed.”

The president went on to lament that the U.S. will soon have “a holiday for every once working day of the year.” He added that change must occur if the country wants to achieve his infamous campaign slogan and pledge to “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” 

Despite issuing statements to mark the day before it was a federal holiday in each of his four years in office during his first term — and even once in 2020 asserting that he made it “famous” — no similar recognition came from Trump this year, his first back in the White House for his second term. 

Asked about whether the president would commemorate the holiday at Thursday’s White House briefing with reporters, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said she was “not tracking his signature on a proclamation.”

“I know this is a federal holiday. I want to thank all of you for showing up to work,” Leavitt continued. “We are certainly here. We’re working 24/7 right now.”

There was no mention of Juneteenth on Trump’s preferred social media platform, Truth Social.

Juneteenth — made a federal holiday by former President Joe Biden in 2021 — pays tribute to June 19, 1865, when enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom, more than two years after former President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Biden marked the day Thursday with a speech at an African Methodist Episcopal church in Galveston. 

In his second term, Trump has sought to crack down on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the federal government, often crediting such a campaign as helping boost U.S. military recruitment numbers. 

In a post on X on Thursday, Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California criticized the timing of Trump’s post on “non-working holidays.” 

“Why didn’t he tweet this on Columbus Day?” Swalwell wrote with a picture of Trump’s post attached. 

Columbus Day — which commemorates Christopher Columbus coming to the Americas — has come under scrutiny in recent years for the impact of Columbus’ arrival on Native Americans. As of 2023 Pew Research Center found that only 16 states and one territory still marked the day as an official public holiday. 

The U.S. government officially recognizes 11 holidays in which most federal employees get paid holiday time off for the day.