January 20th, 2025 was not only the day on which Martin Luther King Jr. Day fell but also a day to go down in United States history: President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. This inauguration is an oddity, not only having taken place the same day of a federal holiday but also taking place inside the capitol building. While it is not unheard of for an inauguration to share the day with MLK day, nor is it the first time an inauguration has been held inside, they have never happened together. The only other president to have been sworn in on MLK Day was Bill Clinton, and his inauguration took place outside. 

Both MLK Day and the inauguration hold a special place in American history, respectively. Martin Luther King Jr. Day first occurred on January 20th, 1986 after then-President Ronald Raegan approved a bill declaring that every third Monday of January be Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Now every third Monday of January is spent commemorating the work of Dr. King, who bravely fought for civil rights up until his death in 1968. 

The inauguration, on the other hand, has its own history. The first inauguration was actually in April instead of January, but after George Washington’s first inauguration, following inaugurations took place in March. It wasn’t until Franklin D. Roosevelt’s second term that the inauguration took place on January 20th. That does not mean that every inauguration afterward has fallen on the 20th; it may be moved to the 21st if the 20th falls on a Sunday.

Many Americans spent the inauguration and MLK Day participating in parades or watching the inauguration, while some just appreciated the day off of school and work. Flint Hill Freshman, Mia Maaseide, spent the day shopping with her friends while classics teacher Mr. Bowler celebrated his friend’s birthday with dinner and a football game. 

However you spent MLK and Inauguration Day this year, the events that happened this year will go down in national history.