Trump Commemorates Black History Month While Battling Diversity Initiatives

President Donald Trump observes Black History Month even as his policies and rhetoric continue to challenge diversity and inclusion efforts in the U.S.

U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated Black History Month with a reception at the White House, where he was accompanied on stage by renowned golfer Tiger Woods.

The celebration takes place amid his administration’s widespread reversal of initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout the federal government.

At the gathering, Trump pledged to feature statues of Black Americans in a proposed “National Garden of American Heroes.”

He stated, “I’m delighted to share that the statue of Prince Estabrook will be part of our new National Garden of American Heroes.”

Prince Estabrook was an enslaved man who became the first Black American to be injured in the Revolutionary War.

Trump stated that the garden would honor “hundreds of our greatest Americans to ever live, including numerous Black Americans.”

He mentioned that the others to be included would be abolitionist Harriet Tubman, activist Rosa Parks, and singers Billie Holiday and Aretha Franklin.

He also quipped that Woods might eventually be included one day.

During his address to hundreds of guests at the traditional White House reception, Trump did not bring up his campaign against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

His reversal of programs aimed at addressing inequality has faced strong criticism from civil rights groups and advocates for racial justice.

According to them, the DEI initiatives have been effective in addressing historical inequities affecting Black Americans.