President Donald Trump formally recognized Jan. 19 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a proclamation released late in the day, urging Americans to “recommit themselves to Dr. King’s dream” after drawing criticism from some civil rights organizations for not initially acknowledging the holiday.
In the proclamation, Trump said he is “steadfastly committed” to ensuring the nation is guided by principles he said King defended throughout his life, and he framed civil rights in religious terms.
“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.
Trump also referenced his administration’s release of additional records related to King’s 1968 assassination, a move he noted publicly even as some members of King’s family objected.
Trump’s language differed from many prior presidential MLK Day proclamations, which have often emphasized ongoing efforts to confront racial inequities. His statement did not directly address disparities in how Black Americans are treated in the United States, instead spotlighting broader themes of national unity and public order.
“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.”
The proclamation followed criticism earlier in the day from the NAACP and other groups who said the White House had not sufficiently recognized the holiday. Before the proclamation 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 alleged the president was instead pursuing divisive politics, claiming Trump’s personal wealth had surged while families faced threats to health care and essential services. He also criticized the administration’s deportation push, its handling of government files related 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 that 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, establishing the third Monday in January as a national day of observance. Since then, every president has issued a formal proclamation recognizing the holiday.
In addition to written proclamations, presidents have typically marked the day with public events such as service projects, memorial ceremonies, speeches, or visits to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C.
In 2023, President Joe Biden spoke at King’s church. In 2008, President George W. Bush delivered remarks at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, and in 2007 he joined a volunteer service event at a local high school.
Trump’s return to the White House on Jan. 20, 2025, coincided with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a rare overlap with Inauguration Day. President Joe Biden issued a proclamation before leaving office.
The Trump administration has also faced scrutiny over broader shifts involving racial history and recognition. 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, according to critics. The Pentagon paused observance of Black History Month last year, and Trump has made rolling back diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives a major priority of his second term.
Trump previously marked MLK Day during his first term. Before taking office in 2017, he called on 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, he signed an MLK Day proclamation but drew criticism for not making a public appearance. In 2019 and 2020, he both issued proclamations and visited the King memorial in Washington to lay a wreath. He also signed a proclamation in 2021 before leaving office.
