Meanwhile, Bernice King gave a poignant speech during the annual commemorative service for her father at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where he was once a pastor. 

She highlighted that in the 40 years since the establishment of the national holiday, this marks only the third instance where MLK Day has coincided with a presidential inauguration. She emphasized that while some see Trump’s second presidency as a celebration of progress and patriotism, others view it as a regression that undermines Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy. 

On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order aimed at eliminating DEI programs across federal agencies. The order targets environmental justice programs, equity-related grants, equity action plans, and equity initiatives.Â