Trump has yet to publicly comment on Juneteenth, the commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States.
Revised Article:
Hey there! Let's dive into a topic that's causing a stir: President Donald Trump's silence on Juneteenth 2021.
You guessed it—the man who commemorated Juneteenth four years straight, even before it became a federal holiday, ended up saying zilch about it this year. That's right, he didn't utter a peep, not even on his finest social media threads.
So, what gives? White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt was asked about the possibility of a Juneteenth shout-out from ol' Don. Her response? "Nope, can't tell ya if his signature is on any proclamation today. I know it's a federal holiday—ta for bein' here, everyone! We're all workin' round the clock, you see."
But don't worry, there were plenty of bigwigs in town for a powwow at the White House. Leaders from the African American community, Trump's high-ranking officials, and more gathered for a chat on better collaboration between leaders and federal, state, and local partners, according to an insider.
It's like night and day when you compare Trump's 2021 silence with his previous praise for this celebrated day. Juneteenth honors the day in 1865 when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved African Americans, over two years after Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.
Trump's silence stands in stark contrast to White House guidelines stating he would sign a Juneteenth proclamation. Leavitt didn't share any deets on this change. Despite his quiet day, Trump still shared his thoughts on Iran, TikTok, and Jerome Powell on his social media network.
And, later that day, Trump took to his website to vent about "too many holidays picked" and called them "costly," claiming they make stores lose billions. However, most stores stay open on Juneteenth, while most federal officials get the day off. It's funny—he spoke more about Juneteenth in his annual statements during his first term. In 2017, he even waxed lyrical about the emotional atmosphere in Galveston when the major general announced the liberation of all slaves. Every year following, he shared Galveston's story. In 2018, he added, "Together, we honor the indomitable spirit and the countless contributions of generations of African Americans to the history of American greatness." In 2020, with his campaign rallies on hiatus due to the pandemic, he chose Tulsa, Oklahoma, to resume his public rallies and scheduled an event on Juneteenth. But the criticism was so fierce, he had to postpone the event by a day.
Yep, Juneteenth has long been a cause for celebration in the African American community, and it's now a federal holiday thanks to President Joe Biden. AP journalist Calvin Woodward helped me out with this one.
So, what's the deal with Trump's silence this year? Well, there are a few theories floating around:
- Political Priorities: By 2021, Trump was no longer in office, and his public statements about holidays like Juneteenth were no longer official White House pronouncements but his own judgments. At this time, he was intensely focused on contesting the 2020 election results and appealing to his political base, so formal acknowledgments of certain holidays might not have been a priority.
- Shifting Political Landscape Around Juneteenth: Juneteenth gained increased national attention and official recognition during and after 2020, especially after the nationwide racial justice protests following George Floyd's death. With the Biden administration making Juneteenth a federal holiday in June 2021, the holiday's cultural and political significance may have influenced whether or how Trump decided to acknowledge it.
- White House Guidelines vs. Personal Messaging: While White House guidelines during Trump's presidency may have recognized Juneteenth, public acknowledgment can vary depending on the administration's messaging strategy. Trump's focus on other political issues likely contributed to the omission.
So there you have it! A fresh take on the former president's silence on Juneteenth 2021. Keep on reading for more juicy details if you're curious!
Policy-and-legislation discussions surrounding the lack of President Donald Trump's Juneteenth 2021 statement delve into the implications of his silence, with theories suggesting political priorities, shifting political landscape around Juneteenth, and White House guidelines vs. personal messaging as potential factors. In the realm of general-news, this silence stands as a notable shift from Trump's previous years' celebratory acknowledgements of Juneteenth.
