Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed federally on the third Monday of January each year since 1986 after being enacted in 1983. In 2025, MLK Day will fall on January 20.
The 20th amendment to the United States Constitution specifies the term of an elected President begins at noon on January 20 of the year following the election. The public celebration of the presidential inauguration occurs on the same day unless the 20th is a Sunday.
In 2025, president-elect Donald Trump will take his oath to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution" on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. One person who might surprise some has stated she's glad Trump will become President on that day.
Dr. Bernice King—the youngest child of MLK Jr. and Coretta Scott King—told The Independent:
"I’m glad that if it was going to happen, it happened on the King holiday, because Dr. King is still speaking to us."
"We cannot retreat or recoil. We have to commit ourselves to continuing the mission of protecting freedom, justice and democracy in the spirit of my father."
She added:
"I know a lot of people are angry right now. But we can’t let that rot in us."
To further clarify her stance, King posted on her Instagram account.
She wrote:
"I am glad the inauguration coincides with the King holiday because this nation will be confronted with the sharp contrast between my father, who espoused love and justice, and Trump, who has often sanctions [sic] hate and injustice."
"The timing of the inauguration on MLK Day serves as a poignant reminder of the values my father stood for—unity, equality, and nonviolence. It challenges us to reflect on our leadership and the direction we are heading as a nation."
Addressing the article from The Independent, she added:
"While the article’s title suggests approval, my intention was to highlight the irony and the opportunity for introspection that this coincidence presents. It is a call for our leaders to embody the principles of justice and compassion that Dr. King championed."
She concluded her post:
"The inauguration coinciding with my father's holiday is not about comparing individuals but about holding all leaders to the standard of love and justice that Dr. King exemplified. It's a call to uphold these enduring values in our leadership and governance."
The post was captioned:
"A wake-up call! Where Do We Go from Here? CHAOS OR COMMUNITY."
"We have a choice. We can still fight to protect Freedom, Justice, and Democracy through the spirit of #Nonviolence365 and by choosing community over chaos."
"#MissionPossible #2025KingHoliday #Inauguration2025"
People appreciated her words.
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Several shared how they would be spending January 20, 2025.
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Several groups plan to hold rallies or marches protesting during Trump's January 20 inauguration.
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Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images