The Republicans who voted against the Juneteenth holiday think it will 'create confusion' alongside July 4

Juneteenth is now officially a federal holiday, but the 14 House Republicans who voted against the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act's passage have some varying objections to the day of recognition.
Some lawmakers, like Reps. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) and Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) took issue with the inclusion of the phrase "Independence Day" in the holiday's formal name, The New York Times reports.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) added that he would've voted in favor of the Juneteenth bill had Democrats changed the name to "Juneteenth National Emancipation Day." Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) felt similarly, claiming, "Naming this day 'National Independence Day' would create confusion and push Americans to pick one of those two days as their independence day based on their racial identity," per the Times.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Others, like Reps. Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.) and Ronny Jackson (R-Texas) believe an added paid holiday for federal employees to be "fiscally irresponsible." Said Jackson on Thursday: "I support Texas' Juneteenth holiday and I support all Americans who celebrate it. However, I do not support more days off for federal employees." Texas was the first of 47 states to celebrate Juneteenth as a state holiday, per NBC News.
And a few, like Reps. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.), roped partisan, politically-charged rhetoric into their rationale. Gosar asserted he "[rejects] racism," but that "Juneteenth is more debunked Critical Race Theory in action." Rosendale argued the movement "isn't an effort to commemorate emancipation," and is instead tied to the "hard-left agenda to enshrine the racial history of this country as the prime aspect of our national story."
Read more at The New York Times.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Keep the fun going with these 7 subscription gift boxes
The Week Recommends Bring the party to their mailbox
-
Babies born using 3 people's DNA are without hereditary disease
Under the radar The method could eliminate mutations for future generations
-
Crossword: July 23, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year