Fact Check: Did President Donald Trump cancel Black History Month?

WASHINGTON, DC: Since Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, Monday, he signed a number of executive orders within the first four days in office.

A viral rumor recently did the rounds on social media claiming President Trump has canceled the Black History Month. The claim gained traction as February, the month which is observed as Black History Month (BHM) in the US, approaches. But is there any truth to this? Let us find out.

Claim: President Donald Trump has canceled Black History Month

Several social media posts claimed that President Trump canceled Black History Month in January. An X user posted, "'⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩ Cancels Black History Month at Federal Agency'. Hope minorities are happy they voted for him."

The claim surfaced after a whistleblower, Mark S Zaid, alleged on X that Trump, as part of his order to end DEI policies, had asked all agencies and federal workers to not celebrate Black History Month in February. 

He wrote, "CIA employees were told all resource & affinity groups are canceled. No black history month or MLK celebration, or any other ethnic recognition months. DEI folks are to be fired rather than allowed to rotate to former offices."

False: Donald Trump did not cancel Black History Month

The claims made in the social media posts are completely false as there is currently no official order or directive to literally cancel Black History Month from President Donald Trump, according to TheGrio.

Moreover, neither of Trump’s anti-DEI orders - 'Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing' or 'Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity' explicitly mentions Black History Month.

Furthermore, an official acknowledged President Trump’s previous recognition of Black History Month and pointed to misinformation on social media related to growing public concerns, per the outlet.

Black History Month is an annual observance in February in the US dedicated to celebrating the achievements, history, and contributions of African Americans and the broader African diaspora. 

Donald Trump's past official recognition of Black History Month

Donald Trump, in his first term as the president, signed proclamations every year observing National African American History Month and held official White House events, which recognized the month and paid homage to Black Americans' contributions to the US, according to TheGrio.

He said at a White House reception for BHM in 2019, "From the earliest days of this nation, African-American leaders, pioneers, and visionaries have uplifted and inspired our country in art, science, literature, law, film, politics, business, and every arena of national life."

He added, "The depth and glory of these contributions are beyond measure. You know it, I know it, and everybody knows it."

Trump said at the time that it was important for the country to "remember the heroic legacy of African Americans who bravely battled oppression to usher in a bright new dawn of freedom".

However, despite his past official recognition of Black History Months and the question whether it will continue in his second term, civil rights leaders and policy advocates believe Trump’s gutting of DEI across the federal government undermines and even reverses the progress that Black Americans have achieved.