Biden pans "efforts to erase history" — and takes veiled shot at Trump — in Juneteenth event at Texas church
Understanding Juneteenth and why it still matters
Washington — Former President Joe Biden criticized "ongoing efforts to erase history" during a Juneteenth Celebration Service at a historic African Methodist Episcopal Church in Galveston, Texas — and appeared to take a shot at his successor, President Trump.
He took part in the service at the Reedy Chapel AME Church, one of the locations where an order announcing the end of slavery in Texas was read on June 19, 1865, two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, according to the church. Biden called Galveston "the city where freedom rang out 160 years ago."
Former President Joe Biden speaks during a Juneteenth event at the Reedy Chapel AME Church, on June 19, 2025, in Galveston, Texas.
David J. Phillip / AP
In 2021, Biden signed into law a measure that made June 19, or Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. Called the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, the bill passed the House with overwhelming support and was approved by unanimous voice vote in the Senate. Juneteenth became the nation's first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983.
Biden spoke about his early history in politics and recounted his role in making Juneteenth a federal holiday, saying, "the events of Juneteenth are of monumental importance to America's story."
"Still today, some say to me and you that this doesn't deserve to be a federal holiday. They don't want to remember...the moral stain of slavery," he said.
Biden also chided what he referred to as "ongoing efforts to erase history from our textbooks and our classrooms."
In at least two moments, Biden seemed to reference Mr. Trump, though not by name. When speaking about attempts to erase history, he referenced "this guy" before giving himself the sign of the cross — drawing laughter from the audience.
At another point, Biden pointed to efforts during his administration to rename military bases named after Confederate military officers, a process mandated by Congress.
"What are we doing now? Reinstating those names," Biden said, referring to the Trump administration's push to restore the military bases' old names. The bases are now dedicated after non-Confederate military veterans who share the same last name as the installations' original Confederate namesakes.
"Darkness can hide much but can erase nothing," the former president said.
Several speakers recognized Biden during Thursday's service, including Galveston Mayor Craig Brown, who presented Biden with a plaque noting his role in making Juneteenth a national holiday.
"I still consider our special guest, President Joe Biden, as my president," Brown said to applause.
Mr. Trump — who has recognized Juneteenth in prior years — said earlier Thursday the U.S. has "too many non-working holidays."
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