What are the federal 'non-working' holidays? Donald Trump Criticizes,Appears to Target Juneteenth
Former President Donald Trump appeared to take aim at Juneteenth celebrations in a recent social media post, voicing concern about what he described as an increasing number of non-working holidays in the United States.
In his post on June 19, Trump wrote:
"It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed. The workers don’t want it either! Soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year."
While Trump didn’t specifically mention Juneteenth, the timing of the post — on the federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of the last enslaved Black Americans in 1865 — led many to interpret it as a criticism of the day.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that all enslaved people were now free. It has long been celebrated in Black communities across the U.S., but gained wider national recognition following the racial justice protests of 2020. President Joe Biden officially designated Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021.
Unclear what costs Trump referenced
It remains unclear what specific costs Trump was referring to, as private businesses are not required to close for federal holidays — and many major retailers, including Walmart, Costco, Target, and Starbucks, remained open on Juneteenth this year. Federal offices, banks, and the U.S. Postal Service were closed in observance of the holiday.
When asked if Trump would issue any public statement recognizing Juneteenth this year, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responded:
"I’m not tracking his signature on a proclamation today. I know this is a federal holiday."
Past remarks on Juneteenth
Trump has previously acknowledged Juneteenth during his first term. However, he faced criticism in 2020 after scheduling a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma — the site of one of the deadliest attacks on Black Americans in U.S. history — on the holiday.
What are the federal 'non-working' holidays?
According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, here is the full list of U.S. federal holidays in 2025:
Jan. 1, Wednesday: New Year's Day
Jan. 20, Monday: Martin Luther King Jr. Day; coincidentally, that date was Inauguration Day, Trump's second as the 47th president of the United States
Feb. 17, Monday: Washington's Birthday, celebrating George Washington and days after Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Many state and local governments designate it as Presidents Day.
May 26, Monday: Memorial Day
June 19, Thursday: Juneteenth
July 4, Friday: Independence Day or July Fourth
Sept. 1, Monday: Labor Day
Oct. 13, Monday: Columbus Day
Nov. 11, Tuesday: Veterans Day
Nov. 27, Thursday: Thanksgiving Day
Dec. 25, Thursday: Christmas Day
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