Trump The White House marks Black History Month while the Defense Department declares ‘Identity Months Death’

Washington (AP) – Trump The White House issued a proclamation Friday that recognized February as Black History Month around the same time as the Defense Ministry issued guidance that declared “identity months dead.”

The conflicting messages came as President Donald Trump have been targeted at Diversity, equity and inclusion programs for removal in the first weeks of his administration. He has referred to Dei initiatives as “discrimination” and insisted that the country should instead move towards a credit-based society.

The White House proclamation calls for “public officials, teachers, librarians and all populations of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities”, although there is no elaboration of what constitutes “appropriate”.

A news announcement from the Defense Ministry entitled “Identity Months Dead on DOD” says official resources, including working hours, will no longer be used to mark cultural consciousness months. Black History Month, Women’s History Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month were among the events listed as now blocked.

“We are proud of our warriors and their history, but we will focus on the nature of their service instead of their unchanging qualities,” the Department of Defense says.

In his first two weeks in office, Trump has moved to end affirmative actions in federal contracting and instructed all federal DEI workers to be put on paid leave before eventually dismissed. Thursday, hours after a midair -collision between a military helicopter and an American Airlines plane killed 67 people just miles from the White House, Trump Owed baseless diversity initiatives For undermining air safety, despite no evidence of it.

Gerald Ford in 1976 became the first president To issue a message recognizing February as Black History Month. Since then, presidents have made annual proclamations marking the month as a celebration of black history, culture and education.

Trump’s proclamation on Friday specifically noted contributions from abolition men Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, Conservative economist Thomas Sowell and Supreme Court Judge Clarence Thomas. It said their results “monumentally promoted the tradition of equality under the law of our great country” and is a continued inspiration.

The statement also built golfer Tiger Woods as an American greatness and said he was among those who have “pushed the boundaries of expertise in their respective areas and paved the way for others to follow.”

“This national black story month when America is preparing to enter a historically golden age,” said the proclamation, “I will expand my enormous gratitude to black Americans for everything they have done to bring us to this moment, And for the many future contribution they will make as we move on to a future with unlimited opportunity during my administration. “