Trump Issues M.L.K. Day Proclamation After Criticism
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- President Trump issued a Martin Luther King Jr. Day proclamation on Monday evening after criticism for not recognizing the holiday earlier or attending commemorative events, breaking from presidential tradition.
- Unlike previous presidents who issued statements and attended events ahead of or on the holiday, Trump spent the day at his Mar-a-Lago estate and only highlighted his prior declassification of documents related to Dr. King's assassination.
- Civil rights groups, including the NAACP, criticized the delayed proclamation and lack of participation, while Dr. King's daughter Bernice King urged Americans to honor her father's legacy by advocating against violence toward marginalized communities.
- The federal holiday, established in 1983 and designated as a day of service in 1994, commemorates Dr. King's
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