Fact Check: "Trump claims holidays cost America billions, but that's a misleading exaggeration."
What We Know
On June 19, 2025, former President Donald Trump made a statement on his Truth Social account criticizing what he termed "non-working holidays," specifically referencing the federal holiday of Juneteenth. He claimed that these holidays "are costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed" (Fox Business). Trump argued that the increasing number of holidays could lead to a situation where there is a holiday for every working day of the year, suggesting that this trend must change for the sake of the economy (Yahoo).
Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, became a federal holiday in 2021 under President Joe Biden. Trump's comments were interpreted as a critique of this holiday's status, despite having previously acknowledged its significance during his presidency in 2019 (Fox Business).
Analysis
Trump's assertion that holidays cost the economy billions is a contentious claim. The economic impact of holidays can be complex and varies widely depending on the industry and the specific holiday in question. While it is true that holidays can lead to lost productivity, quantifying this loss as "billions" is challenging and often speculative.
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Economic Impact of Holidays: Some studies suggest that holidays can lead to decreased productivity, particularly in sectors that rely on continuous operations, such as retail and manufacturing. However, other research indicates that holidays can also boost consumer spending, as people often engage in shopping and leisure activities during these times (Yahoo).
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Source Reliability: The sources reporting on Trump's claims include major news outlets like Fox Business and Yahoo, which are generally reliable but can exhibit political bias. Fox Business tends to have a conservative slant, which may influence how they present Trump's statements. Yahoo, while more neutral, also aggregates opinions and reactions that can reflect public sentiment, including criticism of Trump's comments (Yahoo, Fox Business).
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Public Reaction: Trump's comments were met with significant backlash on social media, with many users mocking his assertion and questioning the validity of his claims. Critics pointed out that holidays are often celebrated for their cultural and historical significance, and their economic impact cannot be reduced to mere productivity losses (Yahoo).
Conclusion
The claim that holidays cost America billions is Partially True. While there is some basis for the assertion that holidays can lead to lost productivity, the extent of this loss is often overstated and varies by context. Additionally, holidays can have positive economic effects that counterbalance any potential losses. Therefore, while Trump's concerns about the economic impact of holidays are not entirely unfounded, they lack nuance and fail to consider the broader implications of such observances.
