White House Skips Juneteenth, Trump Criticizes Holiday Costs

On June 19, 2025, President Donald Trump chose not to commemorate Juneteenth, the federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States, breaking with the tradition established since its federal recognition in 2021. Instead, Trump used the day to criticize the number of federal holidays, claiming they cost the country billions of dollars and suggesting there are too many non-working holidays, a stance that sparked widespread backlash. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed no official Juneteenth events or proclamations were planned, even as the White House was occupied with other briefings. This decision drew sharp criticism from civil rights groups, media figures, and many on social media who viewed it as dismissive of Black history and racial justice efforts, while some Trump supporters supported the economic arguments. The controversy highlighted ongoing tensions in America’s reckoning with its history, with debates continuing over the significance and recognition of Juneteenth. Notably, some local governments like Nassau County in New York still do not observe Juneteenth as a paid holiday, reflecting broader discrepancies in its observance nationwide.