Trump's inauguration and MLK Day coincide for first time since 1997

In a rare historical occurrence, Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day fall on the same date this year, marking the first time this has happened since 1997.

The overlap is uncommon due to the relatively recent designation of MLK Day as a federal holiday in 1983 and the fixed four-year presidential election cycle.

The next time the two dates align will be in 2053.

Only one other US president has taken the oath of office on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Bill Clinton’s second inauguration on January 20, 1997, was the first and only instance until now.

Before MLK Day was established, Franklin D. Roosevelt (1941) and Richard Nixon (1969) were also sworn in on January 20, which fell on a Monday.

Barack Obama’s second inauguration in 2013 had a partial overlap. The official swearing-in was held privately on Sunday, January 20, but a public ceremony was conducted on Monday, January 21—coinciding with Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Inauguration Day was originally held on March 4 but was moved to January 20 after the ratification of the Twentieth Amendment in 1933. The first president inaugurated on the new date was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937.

The next time a U.S. president will be sworn in on Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be in 2053.

What is Martin Luther King Jr. Day?

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday observed on the third Monday of January, celebrates the life and legacy of the civil rights icon. This year, the holiday aligns with President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, a rare coincidence that has only happened twice before, in 1997 and 2013.

The holiday honours King’s relentless fight against segregation and racism through nonviolent means, a struggle that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. As the only non-president to be honoured with a federal holiday, MLK Day has become a day of reflection, service, and commemoration.

The holiday, celebrated on January 20 this year, is often close to King’s birthday on January 15, though the Uniform Monday Holiday Act ensures it is observed on the third Monday of each January. The day is marked by parades, volunteer events, and public ceremonies dedicated to remembering King’s pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement.

The holiday itself was not immediately recognised following King’s assassination in 1968.

Despite public support, legislation for a national holiday took years to pass. It was finally signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, with the first official observance occurring on January 20, 1986.

Since then, MLK Day has become a national day of service. Communities across the US engage in volunteer efforts to honour King’s commitment to social justice and equality. The King Center in Atlanta and the NAACP host major events to remember King’s legacy and encourage further efforts to advance his vision.

Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968, at the age of 39, while in Memphis, Tennessee, leading a march for sanitation workers. His tragic death shook the nation and underscored the urgency of the work he had begun.

King would have turned 96 this month, and his legacy continues to inspire individuals and movements dedicated to racial justice and equality.