Vivek Ramaswamy has some strong thoughts about Juneteenth—that he apparently just figured out. During a conversation with Iowa voters on Saturday, the Republican said the holiday, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, was “useless” and should be canceled. He also added that it was “redundant” because its themes were already expressed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The only problem? Ramaswamy’s statements come just two months after the 2024 presidential hopeful released a video celebrating the “new holiday” and lauding it as a “celebration of the American Dream itself.” Asked by NBC News to clarify his stance on whether Juneteenth was a “useless” holiday, Ramaswamy said, “I basically do.”
Juneteenth is a new holiday so we still have a chance to define what it means to us. It needn’t be about grievance & self-flogging. Let it be a celebration of the American Dream itself. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/NyHfbJoAlw
