National Day of Patriotic Devotion, 2026
President Donald J. Trump issued a Proclamation designating January 20, 2026, as the National Day of Patriotic Devotion, marking the first anniversary of his inauguration and celebrating the administration's achievements in areas including border security, economic revival through deregulation and tax cuts, strengthening the military, and restoring perceived national values and American strength on the world stage.
Arguments For
The proclamation serves to unify Americans by celebrating perceived successes in national sovereignty, safety, justice, and prosperity over the past year.
Designating a specific day reinforces commitment to core American ideals, such as equal justice, freedom of speech, military strength, and respect for heritage.
It publicly validates the administration's policy achievements, such as border security improvements, inflation reduction, manufacturing rebuilding, and securing diplomatic peace agreements.
Establishing a "National Day of Patriotic Devotion" provides a formal occasion to reaffirm foundational principles and national identity for future generations.
Arguments Against
The document frames the preceding year as a complete reversal of perceived chaos, which may be contested by those who disagree with the administration's policy outcomes or characterizations of the previous status quo.
Policy claims regarding the border, economy, and inflation are asserted as fact without external evidence, potentially inviting skepticism regarding the scope and nature of the reported improvements.
Contrasting administration priorities (e.g., merit over DEI) with previous ideological approaches may be seen as polarizing rather than unifying.
Several actions described (like reversing previous policies and specific legislative triumphs) are presented outside the scope of a traditional proclamation, potentially blurring legal or procedural boundaries.
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION
This section formally identifies the document as an official declaration issued by the President of the United States, specifically formatted as a Proclamation.
One year ago today, I stood in the majestic rotunda of our Nation’s Capitol and pledged to the American people that we would reclaim our national sovereignty, restore our safety, rebalance the scales of justice, and rebuild a country that is proud, prosperous, and free. Over the last 12 months, my Administration has swiftly delivered on these promises in epic fashion, ushering in a new era of peace, prosperity, and strength, and reclaiming the values and way of life that have made our Republic the envy of the world for 250 years. On this National Day of Patriotic Devotion, we unite as one people to honor our most sacred American ideals, celebrate our victories, and reaffirm our solemn mission to make our country greater than ever before.
The President recalls the commitment made one year prior to reclaim national sovereignty, restore safety, achieve justice, and rebuild the nation.
The proclamation asserts that the administration has successfully ushered in an era of peace and prosperity while upholding values associated with the Republic's 250-year history.
This day is dedicated to honoring these ideals and celebrating successes.
When I took office 1 year ago, our country was in a state of chaos and decline. Our borders were wide open, allowing criminals, drug dealers, and violent gang members to pour in and poison our communities. Crime was surging, law enforcement was under siege, and Christians, conservatives, and other innocent Americans were being viciously persecuted. Inflation was crushing families, wages were stagnant, and the cost of living was out of control. American democracy had been undermined by lawlessness, government abuse, and a collapse of accountability at the highest levels. Men were competing in women’s sports and invading women’s locker rooms. Extremist left-wing ideologies were being forced into classrooms. The worst trade deals in our history had hollowed out American industry, and our leaders were undermining our strength on the world stage.
This paragraph describes the perceived state of the nation when the administration took office, characterizing it as chaos and decline. Specific issues cited include unsecured borders, surging crime, persecution of certain groups, overwhelming inflation, stagnant wages, undermined democracy, perceived intrusions in women's spaces through sports, imposition of certain ideologies in education, and weakened global standing due to poor trade deals.
On day one, I immediately began working to fight for the law-abiding, hardworking men and women who built our Nation, who defend our Nation, and who make our Nation run.
The President states that immediate action was taken on the first day in office to support the working citizens responsible for building, defending, and operating the country.
One of my most urgent duties was to confront the worst border crisis in American history. Shortly after I took the oath of office, I declared a national emergency at the southern border, designated cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists, resumed border wall construction, reinstated the Remain in Mexico policy, halted the practice of catch-and-release, ended asylum for illegal border crossers, deployed thousands of American soldiers to defend and protect our southern border, and began carrying out the largest deportation operation in the history of our country.
Confronting the southern border crisis was identified as an urgent duty.
Actions taken included declaring a national emergency, designating cartels as terrorist organizations, restarting border wall construction, bringing back the "Remain in Mexico" policy, stopping the practice of releasing migrants pending hearings ("catch-and-release"), ending asylum for illegal border crossers, deploying military personnel to the border, and initiating large-scale deportations.
In just a few short months, we turned the worst border crisis into the most secure border ever recorded. The flood of illegal aliens entering our country has come to a screeching halt. Illegal border crossings over the year have plummeted by 92 percent, and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol seized more than half a million pounds of drugs.
The measures implemented resulted in the border becoming the most secure ever recorded within a short period, causing illegal entries to stop abruptly.
The document claims a 92 percent drop in illegal crossings over the past year and notes that Customs and Border Patrol confiscated over 500,000 pounds of illegal drugs.
I have also spared no time in rebuilding our economy. On the first day of my Administration, I signed a Presidential Memorandum to secure emergency price relief for families — ordering Federal departments to free the American economy from regulatory restraints, restore affordability, and lower the cost of living. I have further taken action to restore American dominance in energy production, and deliver energy abundance that brought down the cost of gas and electricity prices to levels not seen in decades. As a result, inflation is down 70 percent from its peak rate during the previous administration, the affordability gap is swiftly closing, real wages are soaring, and housing costs are falling.
Economic rebuilding efforts began immediately, starting with a Presidential Memorandum to reduce prices by removing regulatory restrictions on the Federal economy.
The administration also focused on restoring U.S. energy production dominance, which allegedly lowered gas and electricity costs substantially.
These actions are credited with reducing inflation by 70% from its peak, closing the affordability gap, increasing real wages, and lowering housing expenses.
Additionally, my Administration has rebuilt American manufacturing and put an end to the policies that forced our workers and businesses to compete against foreign nations that exploit our markets. We have secured historic investment, infrastructure, and technology deals that strengthen our supply chains, protect American innovation, and ensure the future is built by American hands and proud American hearts.
The administration focused on revitalizing American manufacturing by stopping policies that subjected domestic businesses to unfair competition from foreign markets.
The government secured major agreements related to investment, infrastructure, and technology intended to strengthen supply chains, safeguard American innovation, and ensure that future development relies domestically.
Less than 6 months into my term, we passed the historic One Big Beautiful Bill — one of the greatest legislative triumphs in American history — which made the largest tax cuts ever enacted permanent; delivered no tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, and no tax on overtime; increased the child tax credit; invested in American infrastructure; lowered energy costs; and permanently secures the border.
A major legislative achievement, termed the "One Big Beautiful Bill," purportedly passed within the first six months.
Its provisions include making the largest tax cuts permanent, eliminating taxes on tips, Social Security income, and overtime pay, increasing the child tax credit, investing in domestic infrastructure, reducing energy costs, and ensuring permanent border security.
I have also moved swiftly to reassert American strength on the world stage. On my first day back in office, I signed an Executive Order directing the Secretary of State to ensure that all policies, programs, personnel, and operations at the Department of State defend America’s interests and champion the needs of the American people. I have also rebuilt the most powerful and capable military anywhere in the world. Guided by a foreign policy of peace through strength, my Administration has already secured major peace agreements between nations torn by decades of fighting — including in the Middle East — and we will continue to pursue peaceful resolutions that put America first, protect our citizens, and promote stability and prosperity both at home and abroad. The full might of the American spirit is being fully restored, and our work is only just beginning.
The President describes swift action to re-establish U.S. influence globally.
On the first day, an Executive Order mandated that the State Department focus all operations on defending American interests and championing domestic needs.
The military is stated to be the world's most powerful, pursuing a "peace through strength" foreign policy that has already yielded significant peace agreements, including in the Middle East.
The goal remains putting 'America First' to promote global stability.
As President, I have worked to restore the enduring American values that bind us together as one Nation under God: Equal justice under the law, freedom of speech, merit over the sinister “DEI” agenda, and reverence for our heritage, history, and heroes. My Administration has ended the era of government weaponization, strengthened the integrity of our elections, and reaffirmed that the law applies equally to every citizen. Most importantly, we are renewing our civic culture. Under my leadership, children are once again being taught to love their country and always respect our great American flag.
The administration focused on restoring enduring American values, specifically citing equal justice, free speech, prioritizing merit over the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ('DEI') agenda, and respecting national heritage.
Efforts included ending the alleged weaponization of the government, enhancing election integrity, ensuring equal application of the law, and renewing civic culture by teaching children patriotism and respect for the flag.
January 20, 2025, will forever be remembered as the day our Nation was restored to its full greatness and glory. Never again will America surrender her sovereignty, silence her people, apologize for her strength, or suppress the rights and God-given potential of her citizens. This National Day of Patriotic Devotion, as we celebrate 250 years since our Nation’s founding, we stand renewed, resolute, and unafraid, carrying forward the same defiant spirit of July 4, 1776, that forged our Republic and will secure our future for generations to come.
January 20, 2025, is designated as the date the nation regained its greatness, with a commitment that America will no longer surrender sovereignty or strength.
As Americans observe this day during the nation's 250th anniversary year, they are called to stand resolute, echoing the defiant spirit of the Declaration of Independence to secure the nation's future.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 20, 2026, as National Day of Patriotic Devotion, in order to strengthen our bonds to each other and to our country, and to renew the duties of Government to the people.
Exercising constitutional authority, President Donald J. Trump formally proclaims January 20, 2026, as the National Day of Patriotic Devotion.
The stated purpose of this observance is to strengthen national bonds between citizens and their country, and refresh the government's obligations to the populace.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.
This paragraph standardly concludes a proclamation, indicating that the President affixed his signature on January 20, 2026, which is the 250th year since the founding of the United States.
DONALD J. TRUMP
This line provides the signature of Donald J. Trump, concluding the official presidential act.