January 20th of this year marks a rare occasion: a presidential inauguration and MLK Day on the same day. Is this a conflict or complement? Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump, likely one of the most far-right candidates in recent U.S. history, promoted a message many of MLK’s most fervent supporters opposed. MLK’s children, Martin Luther King III, his son, and Bernice King supported Kamala Harris and her bid for the presidency. Given Harris’ stances on abortion, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), and taxation, some people may believe that MLK would have supported her bid for candidacy. This may cause some to think the inauguration and MLK Day happening on the same day contradict each other. But, actually, there is one area of common ground that we can take from both figures: both men have the rare ability to mobilize many, many people for their cause and fight persistently for it.
Donald Trump began his bid for the presidency in 2015, and ran on the campaign motto, “Make America Great Again.” He has changed the ideology of the Republican Party to become more nationalist and more isolationist, encouraging an “America First” policy. He campaigned in the 2024 election on similar issues as in his first term, except this time he had more ammunition and experience. He cited the overrunning of the border by the Biden-Harris policies. He often grouped immigrants from the Southern Border under all a single label—from “jails and mental institutions”—when in fact many of them are just trying to find a better life in the United States. This anti-immigrant rhetoric sometimes even spewed into racist comments from the 45th and 47th President, like when he lied during the Presidential debate versus Kamala Harris that Haitian Immigrants in Springfield, Ohio were “eating the dogs and the cats.” This was obviously false and actually caused many bomb threats within the town of Springfield because of the anti-immigrant feelings in the MAGA community. This anti-immigrant, America First platform is one of the main mobilizers for Trump’s base. Many believe that in his own way, Trump is an activist.
Martin Luther King, Jr., in contrast, was an individual who stood for the human dignity of all. He fought his entire life for the equality of all people and for the end of the evil practice of segregation. After his famous “I Have A Dream” speech at the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. in August 1963, so many people were inspired and mobilized in the US and around the world, the next year in 1964 the Civil Rights Act was passed. This forbade discrimination on the basis of sex and race in hiring, promoting, and firing. King believed that all people, regardless of race, gender, sex and religion be treated equally. That is what he fought and died for and the movement he started changed the country forever. He was also an activist.
So, do Trump’s inauguration and MLK Day on the same day complement or contradict each other? On some issues, they would have agreed, while on others, they would have disagreed. However, there is some common ground between both of these men. Regardless of ones views on President Trump, he fought hard to get to where he is today. He was impeached twice, indicted, almost assassinated, and still managed to become President of the United States. He never let anything stop him. MLK, too, faced many obstacles in his fight for change. He was jailed, faced constant racism and death threats, and was ultimately assassinated, but he never gave up either, dying for his cause. The persistence of these two individuals, their ability to call people to action, regardless of political views, is truly admirable. In that way, hard work, perseverance and activism becomes a unifying message for this day.
This sentiment is captured in a message from MLK’s son: “MLK Day is a reminder to move from reflection to action, “he tweeted, reposting an article about the overlapping dates. “My father’s legacy was rooted in service and action. My mother envisioned a ‘day on,’ not off — an opportunity to serve and engage in building the Beloved Community.”
In a similar call to action, Reverend Bernice King, the youngest daughter of King, said: “I’m glad it occurred on that day because it gives the United States of America and the world the contrast in pictures. Is this the way you want to go — or is this the way you want to go?”
Trump and MLK being honored on the same day presents both contradiction and common ground. Regardless of how you view them, it is a call to action—to keep fighting for what you believe every day and to never give in or give up, no matter the challenges life presents.