President Donald Trump marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 19 with an official proclamation, urging Americans to “recommit themselves to Dr. King’s dream” after some civil rights groups criticized him earlier in the day for not acknowledging the holiday.
“As President, I am steadfastly committed to ensuring that our country will always be guided by the same principles that Dr. King defended throughout his life and to upholding the timeless truth that our rights are not granted by government but endowed by Almighty God,” Trump said in the proclamation.
Trump also pointed to his administration’s release of records related to King’s 1968 assassination, a move that drew objections from some members of King’s family.
The proclamation struck a different tone than many past White House statements recognizing the holiday, which often emphasized the nation’s ongoing work toward racial justice. Trump’s message did not address disparities in how Black Americans are treated.
“Today, we honor the brave men and women who remain steadfast in their commitment to law, order, liberty, and justice for all,” Trump said. “We renew our resolve to honor our heritage, reclaim our freedom, and recommit to the truth that America is, was, and forever will be a great Nation.”
Trump’s proclamation arrived late in the day, after criticism from organizations including the NAACP. Before it was issued, NAACP President Derrick Johnson said in a statement that “Donald Trump has zero interest in uniting this country or recognizing its history and diversity.”
Johnson accused Trump of fueling division and alleged the president benefited financially while families faced reduced access to health care and essential services. He also criticized the administration’s deportation push, its handling of government files connected to Jeffrey Epstein, and other issues.
Trump spent the holiday at his Mar-a-Lago estate and attended the National College Football Championship in Miami in the evening.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a federal holiday after President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law on Nov. 2, 1983, designating the third Monday in January to honor the civil rights leader. Since then, every president has issued a proclamation recognizing the day.
Many presidents have also marked the holiday with public events or service-related appearances, including speeches, memorial observances, and wreath-laying ceremonies at sites honoring King. In 2023, President Joe Biden delivered remarks at King’s church. In 2008, President George W. Bush spoke at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C., and in 2007 he joined a volunteer service effort at a local high school.
Trump’s first day back in office on Jan. 20, 2025, coincided with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and then-President Joe Biden signed a proclamation before leaving office.
The Trump administration has also faced scrutiny over changes to federal recognition and observance practices. It removed Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from the National Park Service’s list of fee-free days and added Trump’s birthday. The Pentagon paused observance of Black History Month last year, and Trump has made rolling back diversity, equity, and inclusion programs a major priority in his second administration.
Trump previously acknowledged Martin Luther King Jr. Day during his first term. Ahead of his 2017 inauguration, he encouraged Americans to “celebrate all of the many wonderful things that he stood for,” shortly before meeting with Martin Luther King III at Trump Tower.
In 2018, Trump signed an official proclamation but drew criticism for not making a public appearance. In 2019 and 2020, he issued proclamations and visited the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C., to lay a wreath on the holiday. He also signed a proclamation in 2021 before leaving office.
