President Trump’s administration has published a proclamation recognizing the month of black history and announced the end of cultural observances at the Ministry of Defense.
United States of America, – President Donald Trump’s administration published a proclamation on Friday, January 31, recognizing the month of black history and simultaneously announced the end of cultural observances at the Ministry of Defense.
The movements come as Trump has targeted the programs of diversity, equity and inclusion. The Ministry of Defense has declared that he would no longer devote official resources to mark the months of cultural awareness, including the month in the history of blacks.
The presidential proclamations of Trump and his predecessor, Joe Biden, reveal differences in striking approach. Biden’s proclamation in 2024 largely discussed systemic racism, political initiatives targeting racial inequalities and specific achievements such as record black unemployment. He stressed that “the history of blacks is American history” while recognizing the continuous struggle of the country with “the moral spot and the vestiges of slavery”.
On the other hand, the shorter proclamation of Trump 2025 focused on individual achievements, highlighting characters like Clarence Thomas and Tiger Woods. While following the traditional format established when President Gerald Ford recognized the month of black history in 1976, Trump’s proclamation avoided discussing systemic problems or specific policies, speaking rather to grasp “an age of Historical gold ”. Trump also did not capitalize black Americans, rather choosing to capitalize only the Americans.
The two proclamations have concluded a similar formal language calling for Americans to “observe this month with programs, ceremonies and appropriate activities”. However, the new directives of the Ministry of Defense effectively prohibit these observances within the army, marking a significant gap in previous practices.
Development highlights growing tensions around diversity initiatives while Trump administration moves to dismantle Dei programs while retaining certain traditional observances that go back to decades.
