Republican Lawmaker Proposes Making Trump’s Birthday a Public Holiday
A Republican congresswoman has introduced a bill to designate Donald Trump’s birthday as a public holiday, though the proposal faces significant hurdles in Congress. Claudia Tenney, a representative from New York’s Finger Lakes region, unveiled the legislation on Friday, seeking to merge Flag Day with a national observance of Trump’s birthday on June 14.
Tenney argued that Trump is “the most consequential president in modern American history” and should be honored similarly to George Washington, whose birthday is recognized as a federal holiday each February. “His impact on the nation is undeniable,” she stated in a news release. Taking to social media platform X, she wrote: “Just as George Washington’s birthday is codified as a federal holiday, President Trump’s birthday should also be celebrated to recognize him as the founder of America’s Golden Age.”
However, the comparison has sparked widespread debate. While Washington led the U.S. to independence and served as its first president, Trump holds the distinction of being the first former president to be convicted of felonies—34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush-money payments before the 2016 election.
The proposal has been met with skepticism and mockery online. Some users on X questioned whether the bill was satire, while others criticized Tenney for prioritizing such legislation over pressing issues affecting her constituents. One user sarcastically commented: “Sure, that will bring down the cost of my groceries.” Another added: “Surely you have better things to do with your time. Stop brown-nosing and get to work for your constituents.”
The bill’s prospects for success remain slim. Historically, establishing new federal holidays requires significant bipartisan support, and even with a Republican-controlled Congress, the threshold for approval is high. Moreover, in the Senate, Republicans lack the majority needed to pass the bill without Democratic backing—an unlikely scenario given their opposition to the measure.
Tenney’s legislation is part of a broader effort by some Republican lawmakers to commemorate Trump beyond his presidency. In January, Republican Representative Addison McDowell proposed renaming Washington Dulles International Airport after Trump. Additionally, Representative Anna Paulina Luna introduced a measure to add Trump’s likeness to Mount Rushmore alongside U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.
As the debate continues, it remains uncertain whether these initiatives will gain traction or serve primarily as symbolic gestures aimed at rallying Trump’s supporters.
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