Donald Trump doesn't acknowledge Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: USA Today

Updated Jan. 19, 2026, 4:17 p.m. ET


In a break from past presidential traditions, including his own first term, President Donald Trump has not recognized Jan. 19 2026 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day through any official statement, proclamation or activity. The federal holiday honoring the slain civil rights leader's work against end segregation and racism falls on the third Monday of January.

Trump spent the day at his Mar-a-Lago estate. He is scheduled to attend the National College Football Championship in Miami in the evening.The White House did not immediately respond when asked on Jan. 19 whether Trump planned to acknowledge the day, or King's legacy.

Trump's only social media post the morning of Jan. 19 called for voter ID requirements, a measure opposed by civil rights groups because racial minorities are more likely to lack state-issued identification. The White House social media accounts posted about ICE and Trump's accomplishments in his first year in office after being contacted by USA TODAY.

Congress created the Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and only it can stop its official observance. President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law on Nov. 2, 1983, thus designating the third Monday in January a federal holiday in observance of the civil rights leader. Trump is the first president not to issue an official proclamation recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day since Reagan made it a holiday.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/01/19/donald-trump-doesnt-acknowledge-martin-luther-king-jr-day/88252240007/

[Deuxcents]

1. TSF is so predictable. Maybe it's best that he does not say anything about today and just STFU

[Harker]

8. His silence is deafening.

[surfered]

2. He's a racist. It's what his immigration policy is all about. He wants immigrants from Norway or white South Africa.

No people of color
Then read this:
https://www.thetravel.com/us-national-parks-without-free-mlk-day-first-time-since-2011/

[UpInArms]

3. gotta fix this sentence

Trump spent the day at his Mar-a-Lago estate cesspool.

cesspool /sĕs′poo͞l″/
noun

A covered hole or pit for receiving drainage or sewage, as from a house. A filthy, disgusting, or morally corrupt place. A cistern in the course, or the termination, of a drain, to collect sedimentary or superfluous matter; a privy vault; any receptacle of filth.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. "Trump is the first president not to issue an official proclamation recognizing MLK Day...

Link to tweet

[bluestarone]

5. Hey, Hey, HO, HO

THIS president has got to GO!

[electric_blue68]

6. Another Disgraceful (Non) Action by drumphf.

[ArizonaLib]

7. Good

I was wondering if he was going to institute the insurrection act to mark the day. Having marched several times in the years prior to AZ adopting MLK day here in AZ, it belongs to decent human beings - others have the opportunity to learn from it.

[efhmc]

9. Just saying MLK's name would be a dishonor. Did somehthing right for a change.

[Gato Moteado]

10. it's because MLK won the nobel peace prize in 1964

[bmichaelh]

11. To MLK, empathy is no sin

I thought he would.

Republicans like to say: "If Martin Luther King Jr was alive today, he would be...":

Which is sure nonsense.

MLK is the complete opposite of MAGA and some of them who say empathy is a sin.

Empathy requires more than "thoughts and prayers"