While everyone knows that today that is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a chance to honor one of the most beloved, brave, and amazing Civil Rights activists and American citizens who has ever lived, few remember the long battle it took to establish Dr. King’s birthday as a federal holiday. While some enjoy a day off from work for the holiday, others make it “a day on” to contribute to society and further the work of Dr. King.
Not Donald Trump.
On the day that we recognize the world-changing contributions of one of the country’s greatest heroes, Donald Trump is taking the day off as president. Instead of flying home on Sunday evening, as he has done nearly every weekend as president once he’s finished his weekly golf vacations, Trump is staying at Mar-a-Lago until 4:20 PM EST on Monday for the federal holiday. His presidential calendar has not been updated and no meetings or events seemed to be planned to honor the day.
While President Obama spent each Martin Luther King, Jr. Day encouraging Americans to volunteer in their communities to make the world a better place, Trump will spend the holiday doing exactly what he’s done for an average of every four days since his inauguration: golfing at one of his many resorts.
His day off comes at a time when his image is most in need of repair. After calling countries mostly populated with black and brown people – including Haiti, El Salvador, and many African countries – a “sh*thole,” and saying that the U.S. needs more immigrants from the 94 percent white Norway, he was faced with widespread accusations of racism by members of Congress, American citizens, and other world leaders.
Instead of heading off those accusations with an actual demonstration of his acknowledgement of the work toward ending injustice for minorities most in need done by Dr. King, Trump is off living the high life instead, golfing at the resort where he employs mostly immigrants in low-paid service positions.
The President invited members of the Coast Guard to play golf to thank them personally for their service of patrolling the waters near Palm Beach and Mar-a-Lago. / AFP PHOTO / Nicholas Kamm (Photo credit should read NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)
On the campaign trail, Trump excoriated President Obama for his vacation days spent golfing, telling his supporters that he would never do the same.
‘I’m going to be working for you, I’m not going to have time to go play golf.’
@BarackObama played golf yesterday. Now he heads to a 10 day vacation in Martha's Vineyard. Nice work ethic.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 15, 2011
Trump’s “sh*thole” comments were not the first incident in which he showed his obvious bias. In addition to the days he and his father were taken to court for refusing to rent to black tenants, as well as his targeted harassment of the Central Park Five, Trump did not change his ways as a presidential candidate. Calling Mexican immigrants “rapists” and “drug dealers,” tweeting out white supremacist memes that gave false statistics to blame black Americans for the majority of murders in the United States, and his proposed Muslim ban have all offered proof of his bigotry.
Trump’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day plans are just as reprehensible as anyone expected.
Featured image via Getty/Mark Wilson and Getty/Michael Ochs ArchivesÂ
