President Donald Trump has released an official proclamation that was supposed to honor Black History Month, but as it went on, it focused less and less on Black Americans themselves and more on Trump’s broader political message.
In the statement published on the White House website, Trump tied Black History Month to the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence in July. He argued that Black history should not be treated as something separate or distinct, saying it is simply an important chapter within American history as a whole. According to Trump, Black Americans’ contributions should not be highlighted separately because, in his view, those achievements were not shaped by race and therefore do not require special recognition.
The proclamation praised Black Americans for their roles in government, the military, culture, business, and public life, calling them heroes. But it quickly undercut that praise by insisting that their accomplishments should not be celebrated on their own terms. Instead, Trump framed those contributions as proof that America’s founding promise of equality already worked as intended.
He wrote that the nation was founded on the belief that everyone is created equal and claimed that this idea inspired Black Americans to help fulfill that promise. Rather than acknowledging the long history of discrimination, exclusion, and struggle that made Black History Month necessary in the first place, the proclamation treated inequality as a problem already solved by American ideals.
The tone then shifted sharply. Trump used the document to attack political opponents, accusing progressives and the far left of dividing Americans by race. He claimed they have pushed what he described as a distorted and harmful version of American history, one that unfairly criticizes the country and its heroes. He argued that Black History Month should not focus on differences or past injustices, but instead promote unity under one flag and one shared national story.
Trump also used the proclamation to promote his plan for a new National Garden of American Heroes, a large statuary park that would be part of his vision for reshaping Washington, D.C. He said the park would include statues of well-known Black figures such as Booker T. Washington, Jackie Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Coretta Scott King, and Muhammad Ali. However, the wording made clear that the park would not focus specifically on Black history, but would instead mix these figures into a broader celebration of what Trump calls “great Americans.”
The statement also referenced a past event at the White House honoring Black History Month, where Trump appeared alongside civil rights attorney Leo Terrell and golf legend Tiger Woods. Even that mention seemed less about Black history itself and more about showcasing Trump’s relationships and public image.
Trump further pointed to a previous executive order related to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, saying it would help future Black leaders learn from “great American examples.” Again, the language emphasized assimilation into a single national narrative rather than acknowledging the unique role HBCUs have played because of racial exclusion elsewhere.
By the end of the proclamation, Trump fully returned to his familiar campaign-style rhetoric. He spoke about fighting to make neighborhoods safer, groceries cheaper, and the American Dream more achievable, language that closely mirrors his usual messaging ahead of elections. What began as a statement about Black History Month ultimately became another platform for Trump to promote his leadership and political agenda, leaving many observers noting how little the document actually centered Black history at all.
