On June 19, as the nation commemorated Juneteenth, former President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the United States has “too many non-working holidays,” claiming they cost the economy “$BILLIONS OF DOLLARS” and that “the workers don’t want it either.”

“Soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Juneteenth, which celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, became a federal holiday in 2021 under President Joe Biden, who signed it into law with overwhelming bipartisan support. It is the 11th federal holiday in the U.S. and holds deep historical significance for Black Americans.

Biden responded by reaffirming his support from Galveston, Texas—where Union troops announced the end of slavery in 1865—calling Juneteenth “a day of liberation, remembrance, and celebration.”

“Making Juneteenth a federal holiday is one of the proudest moments of my presidency.”

🎂 Trump’s “King’s Day” Celebration Came First — And Cost Millions

While Trump criticized Juneteenth as too expensive and unnecessary, it came just five days after he celebrated his 78th birthday on June 14 with a military-style parade in Washington, D.C.—a spectacle unofficially dubbed “King’s Day” by his supporters.

Trump leaned into the nickname by posting a photoshopped image of himself wearing a crown with the caption “LONG LIVE THE KING!” on Truth Social. The event was billed as a celebration of both his birthday and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, but the optics heavily leaned toward a self-congratulatory spectacle.

👉 Read our full breakdown of that event: Trump

Reports estimate the “King’s Day” event cost between $25 million and $45 million, funded largely by federal event and security budgets. The display included military bands, tanks, aircraft flyovers, fireworks, and massive crowd control measures—many of which required city and federal resources.

The event shut down large sections of D.C. for the day and drew criticism from both sides of the aisle as a campaign-style spectacle funded by taxpayer dollars.

⚖️ Hypocrisy or Strategy?

Trump’s critique of Juneteenth and other holidays as wasteful has drawn harsh backlash when juxtaposed with his recent “King’s Day” blowout. Critics point out the clear contradiction: calling Juneteenth too expensive while indulging in a personal celebration that required massive public spending.

“You can’t say holidays are too costly and then throw a $40 million birthday party for yourself on federal property,” one political commentator noted.

This isn’t the first time Trump has stirred controversy around Juneteenth. In 2020, he moved a campaign rally originally scheduled for June 19 in Tulsa, Oklahoma—a city marked by the 1921 race massacre—after backlash. He later claimed credit for “making Juneteenth very famous,” telling The Wall Street Journal,

“Nobody had ever heard of it.”

🧾 Key Points

• June 14: Trump hosts the “King’s Day” parade for his birthday and the Army’s 250th anniversary
• June 19: On Juneteenth, Trump complains about “too many non-working holidays” costing the country money
• Parade Cost: Estimates range from $25M–$45M, publicly funded
• Critics call out hypocrisy, especially as Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery and holds historic significance for Black Americans

📚 Sources:

• Truth Social – Trump “LONG LIVE THE KING!” Post (June 14)
• Yahoo News – Coverage on Juneteenth comments and Biden’s response