Less than three months after President Donald Trump publicly lamented what he called "too many non-working holidays" in the United States, the White House has indicated he would not stand in the way of adding yet another to the federal calendar—this time, in honor of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed earlier this month in Utah.
During a White House press briefing on September 22, 2025, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked directly whether the president would support legislation to create a federal holiday commemorating Kirk. Her response was measured but clear: "I'm sure he wouldn't oppose such a thing." According to Reuters, Leavitt’s comments came as Congress continued to grapple with how best to honor the late Turning Point USA founder, whose assassination has sent shockwaves through the political world.
Charlie Kirk, 31, was fatally shot in the neck on September 10, 2025, while addressing students at Utah Valley University. The attack, which prosecutors have described as an assassination, stunned supporters and critics alike. Law enforcement officials quickly identified Tyler Robinson, 22, as the primary suspect, and prosecutors have since charged Robinson with murder, felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, committing a violent offense in the presence of a child, two counts of obstruction of justice, and two counts of witness tampering, as reported by the Associated Press.
In the days following Kirk’s death, tributes poured in from across the political spectrum, but the response from Washington has been particularly notable. Both chambers of Congress—despite deep partisan divides—moved swiftly to adopt resolutions in Kirk’s honor. Last week, the Senate passed a resolution designating October 14, 2025—the day that would have marked Kirk’s 32nd birthday—as a "National Day of Remembrance" for him. The House followed suit, adopting its own resolution hailing Kirk as a "courageous American patriot." However, the votes were far from unanimous: nearly half of House Democrats either voted against the measure or abstained by voting "present," according to The Independent.
Still, neither of these resolutions carries the force of law needed to create an official federal holiday. As USA Today points out, establishing a federal holiday is a far more complicated process. It requires the passage of a bill through both the House and Senate and the president’s signature. If such a bill were to reach Trump’s desk, Leavitt’s comments suggest he would sign it—despite his recent criticism of America’s growing list of holidays.
Currently, the United States recognizes 12 federal holidays, with the most recent addition being Juneteenth, established in 2021 when then-president Joe Biden signed the relevant legislation. Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, marks the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Grainger enforced the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas, effectively freeing the last enslaved African Americans in the United States. During his first term, Trump signed annual proclamations recognizing Juneteenth and even pledged to support the holiday’s formal creation while campaigning for re-election in 2020.
However, Trump’s stance on federal holidays shifted notably after his return to office. On June 19, 2025, he took to Truth Social to air his grievances about the proliferation of non-working holidays, writing: "Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed. The workers don’t want it either!" He added, "Soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN." These comments, reported by Reuters and The Independent, sparked debate about the economic impact of federal holidays and the cultural significance they carry.
Despite this apparent contradiction, Trump’s tribute to Kirk at a public memorial service in Phoenix on September 21, 2025, struck a different tone. According to AP, Trump called Kirk a "martyr for American freedom" and told mourners, "I know I speak for everyone here today when I say that none of us will forget Charlie Kirk. And neither now will history." The president’s remarks underscored the emotional resonance of Kirk’s death for many on the political right, as well as the growing momentum behind efforts to memorialize him in a more permanent way.
The debate over creating a new federal holiday in Kirk’s honor has, unsurprisingly, split along partisan lines. Supporters argue that Kirk’s activism and tragic death merit national recognition. They point to his work founding Turning Point USA and his influence among young conservatives as evidence of his lasting impact. Critics, however, question whether adding another federal holiday is warranted—especially given Trump’s own complaints about the economic costs of such days off and the precedent it might set for future commemorations. Some Democrats have also voiced concerns about the process, noting that Congress has only rarely created new federal holidays and typically reserves them for events or figures with broad, bipartisan support.
For context, the creation of Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021 was the first such move in nearly four decades. Before that, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983, following years of advocacy and debate. As USA Today notes, the process is intentionally rigorous, reflecting the symbolic and practical weight that federal holidays carry in American life. Each new holiday means government offices close, many businesses follow suit, and millions of workers get a paid day off—costs that, as Trump has pointed out, can add up quickly.
Yet, the push to honor Kirk appears to be gathering steam, fueled by both grassroots activism and high-profile endorsements. Whether Congress will ultimately pass legislation to make October 14 a federal holiday remains to be seen. But with the White House signaling no opposition, the path is at least open for further debate.
Meanwhile, the investigation into Kirk’s assassination continues. Prosecutors are preparing their case against Robinson, and the campus community at Utah Valley University is still reeling from the violence that unfolded there. For many, the question of how best to honor Kirk’s legacy—whether through a holiday, a day of remembrance, or other means—remains an open and deeply personal one.
As the nation grapples with the aftermath of Kirk’s death and the broader debate over the meaning and value of federal holidays, one thing is clear: the conversation about who and what America chooses to remember is far from over.
