Trump inauguration and MLK Day rarely coincide in rare overlap: NPR

Federal holidays overlap in a rare overlap on Monday, which is both Inauguration Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration is only the third time a president has been sworn in on the day dedicated to honoring the late civil rights leader. Former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama both did so during their second inaugurations, in 1997 and 2013.

The two events are not expected to coincide again until January 2053, due to their particular requirements and the vagaries of the calendar.

MLK Day – which was approved as a federal holiday in 1983 and has been recognized in all 50 states since 2000 – always occurs on the third Monday in January because it falls close to its anniversary, January 15.

Inauguration Day has been held on January 20 since the passage of the 20th Amendment in 1933.

Presidents had already been sworn in by early March because of the time it took to tabulate votes and travel to Washington, creating a long lame duck period that Congress was eager to shorten once technological advances allowed. In 1937, Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first president inaugurated on January 20.

In years when January 20 falls on a Sunday, a private swearing-in ceremony takes place on that day, followed by a public ceremony on January 21 – as was the case during Obama’s second inauguration.

Obama was sworn in that year using a Bible that belonged to King himself.

Some Trump critics see irony in this overlap

Because Monday is a federal holiday, entities like the U.S. Postal Service, banks and many schools will be closed.

There are plenty of ways for Americans to stay busy, though, whether it’s watching Trump’s swearing-in or streaming the King Center memorial service. People may also want to volunteer in their community, as MLK Day is designated as a day of service.

Trump’s inauguration schedule does not appear to include any MLK-specific events.

The new president has been criticized for comparing himself to King. At a press conference in August, he falsely claimed that his January 6, 2021, rally drew a larger crowd than King’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech at the 1963 March on Washington.

“When you look at the exact same picture…of his crowd, of my crowd, we actually had more people,” Trump said. “They said I had 25,000 and he had a million people, and that’s fine with me, because I loved Dr. Martin Luther King.”

Some Democratic lawmakers and black activists are considering skipping or ignoring Trump’s inauguration in favor of MLK Day.

Some have pointed to Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric, including talk of political retaliation and policy positions — such as promises of mass deportations — that they say are at odds with King’s message and legacy.

“I plan to spend Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend in my district in community events that nourish our collective soul and recommit us to building a future rooted in love,” said the Massachusetts Rep. Ayana Pressley at member station GBH.

Don’t know how to observe the day? King’s descendants have ideas

In response to posts calling for people to watch the MLK service instead of the inauguration, Bernice King — King’s daughter — took to Instagram last month to encourage people to pay attention to both.

“I certainly understand the desire to set aside rhetoric, ideology and policies with which we passionately disagree and which contradict the spirit of the Beloved Community,” King wrote. “However, we must pay attention to what President-elect Trump says that day, even if it will be via transcript and video later.”

People cannot address the issue of language and legislation if they are not listening strategically, she added, warning that “this is not the time for ignorance “.

King’s eldest son, Martin Luther King III – who supported Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election – also called on people to get involved in the day, although he did not explicitly address the inauguration .

“MLK Day is a reminder to move from reflection to action,” he tweeted, reposting an article about the overlapping dates. “My father’s legacy was rooted in service and action. My mother envisioned a day of work and not of rest, an opportunity to serve and engage in building the beloved community.”