Did Donald Trump Cancel Black History Month? Fact-Checking Claim

President Donald Trump showing a signed executive order on Day 4.

Photo : AP

Amid a host of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump over the first four days in office, claims that he has canceled Black History Month started doing rounds on social media. Several posts were made, including some websites publishing the claim in the garb of news. With the month-long observance of Black History Month in the US starting in February, the claim gained further traction.

However, Times Now Digital can confirm that President Trump has issued no orders directing that the observance of Black History Month be canceled.

Here is a post with the false claim:

The claim surfaced on social media after a whistleblower, Mark S. Zaid – an attorney working on national security cases, claimed on X that Donald Trump, as part of his order to end DEI policies, has asked all agencies and federal workers to not celebrate Black History Month in February. However, the claims made by Zaid are not confirmed.

“CIA employees were told all resource & affinity groups are canceled,” Zaid said in a post on X. “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.”

Black History Month is an annual observance in February in the United States and Canada (and in October in the UK) dedicated to celebrating the achievements, history and contributions of African Americans and the broader African diaspora. In his first term, Trump celebrated Black History Month each year in February issuing proclamations.

In 2018, his proclamation spoke about the “resolve and courage” of the Black people throughout American history.” In 2020, he highlighted their “perseverance and faith in the face of adversity”.