Trump criticizes Juneteenth and other “non-working holidays,” sparking backlash online

President Donald Trump stirred controversy on Juneteenth after posting on Truth Social criticizing “non-working holidays” for harming the U.S. economy.

Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the U.S., honoring June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to free enslaved people. It became a federal holiday in 2021 under President Biden.

At Thursday’s White House briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Trump would not be issuing a proclamation and added, “We’re working 24/7 right now.”

Trump’s remarks quickly drew backlash across social media. Civil rights leaders and Democratic lawmakers condemned the post as “tone-deaf” and “disrespectful to Black history.” NAACP President Derrick Johnson called it “a deliberate erasure of a vital part of American history.”

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) tweeted, “Juneteenth isn’t a burden—it’s a reminder of freedom hard-fought. Trump’s comments are cruel and calculated.”

Meanwhile, Trump supporters defended the post, saying his focus on economic impact was valid. “We need productivity, not paid time off,” one user replied on X.

Trump, who previously claimed he made Juneteenth “very famous,” has made eliminating DEI programs and slashing federal holidays part of his broader campaign to reshape the federal workforce and culture.