Biden signs legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday

On June 19, 1865, the end of slavery was enforced in Texas, marking a significant moment in American history known as Juneteenth. On June 19, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, officially establishing June 19 as a federal holiday, in honor of this historical event. The decision received overwhelming bipartisan support, passing the House and Senate with little resistance. Biden underscored that Juneteenth serves as a reminder of America's moral stain of slavery, emphasizing the need for the nation to confront its past rather than erase it. Recently, on the evening of June 20, 2025, Biden commemorated Juneteenth at the Reedy Chapel AME Church in Galveston, Texas, the location where the news of freedom was delivered to enslaved people in 1865. During his address, he criticized those who argue against the holiday's significance, stating, "Some say to me and to you that this doesn't deserve to be a federal holiday... They don’t want to remember, but we all remember, the moral stain of slavery." The event served both as remembrance and celebration, illustrating the ongoing struggle for racial equality in America. Biden’s remarks also echoed current political tensions; he appeared to take a veiled jab at his predecessor, Donald Trump, who had recently expressed discontent with the number of holidays in the United States, calling it an economic burden. In his speech, Biden acknowledged the efforts to revise history, referencing attempts to revert changes he had made regarding military base names associated with the Confederacy. Such conversations highlight the divide in American politics regarding historical recognition and racial equality. This year's Juneteenth celebration followed Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of this remembrance amid personal challenges. The president's comments reinforced the message that Black history is integral to American history, arguing that failing to acknowledge this is a step backward rather than forward. Figures like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries supported Biden by criticizing Republican attempts to roll back historical recognitions, affirming a commitment to preserving and promoting an accurate recount of America’s history.