Overview

• Events included parades, festivals and educational programs in Galveston, Peoria, Portsmouth and other cities as communities marked the end of slavery.
• President Trump did not hold any White House observance for Juneteenth, instead posting on social media that he would eliminate non-working federal holidays.
• Trump’s executive order eliminating DEI programs prompted federal agencies and corporate sponsors to withdraw support and grants, leading to cancelled or scaled-back events from Denver to Fredericksburg.
• Juneteenth has remained a widely recognized federal holiday since 2021, commemorating the 1865 emancipation announcement in Texas and serving as a focal point for racial equity advocacy.
• Advocates such as Opal Lee and the NAACP underscore Juneteenth’s role as a living commemoration and a catalyst for ongoing racial justice efforts.