Could America’s holiday calendar be draining the nation’s economic vitality? Former President Donald Trump thinks so, and he’s not holding back on his latest critique of what he sees as an overindulgence in paid time off.
Trump took to Truth Social on Juneteenth to voice his concerns about the growing number of non-working days in the United States. As reported by the New York Post, he argued that these holidays are costing the country billions in lost productivity.
“Too many non-working holidays in America,” Trump declared in his post. But is this really a crisis, or just a call to refocus on the grind that built this nation? His point about economic impact deserves a hard look, even if it ruffles feathers among the work-life balance crowd.
“The workers don’t want it either!” Trump insisted, suggesting a groundswell of frustration among everyday Americans. Yet, one wonders if the average worker, especially those in low-wage jobs without guaranteed time off, would agree with this blanket claim.
Trump warned that the U.S. risks turning every day into a holiday if the trend continues unchecked. “Soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year,” he quipped. It’s a sharp jab at what he sees as a slippery slope to economic stagnation under progressive influence.
His broader mission to “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN” hinges, in part, on curbing what he views as excessive downtime. While the sentiment resonates with those prioritizing productivity, it’s worth asking if fewer holidays truly translate to greater national strength.
Let’s lay out the reality: the U.S. doesn’t even mandate a minimum number of paid vacation days for employees. Unlike many global counterparts, American workers often depend on their employer’s goodwill or the job sector for any time off at all. It’s a stark contrast to the generous policies abroad that Trump seems to be eyeing with suspicion.
Typically, the U.S. observes 10 public holidays, but there’s no guarantee employees get these as paid days off. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that while most private firms offer some vacation leave, it’s often the lowest-paid hourly workers who miss out. That’s a tough pill for the working class that Trump claims to champion.
Meanwhile, one in four American workers receives no vacation time or holiday pay at all, according to human resources firm Justworks. Even among those who do get time off, a 2023 Pew Research survey found 46% don’t use all they’re entitled to. Is this a sign of dedication or a system that discourages true rest?
Across the Atlantic, European nations lead the pack in mandated time off, thanks to strong labor movements. Austria tops the list with 25 days of required paid vacation plus 13 public holidays, while France and Spain each offer 36 days. Germany mandates 30 days, and the UK requires 28—numbers that make U.S. policies look downright stingy.
Outside Europe, South Korea mandates 31 vacation days, and Japan requires 26. In Canada, workers get at least two weeks of vacation after a year, increasing to three or four weeks with longer tenure. Mexico offers a minimum of 12 days after a year, plus a 25% salary bonus for vacation time—a sweetener the U.S. could only dream of legislating.
Justworks’ 2023 report highlights that most countries worldwide require employees to use all their paid time off annually. The reasoning is sound: it fosters better work-life balance and shows employers value their staff as individuals. Yet, in the U.S., the push for more holidays often gets framed as a progressive luxury rather than a worker’s right.
Trump’s critique isn’t without merit when you consider the billions potentially lost to downtime. But painting holidays as the enemy of progress overlooks the struggles of workers who can’t even access basic leave. A balanced approach might ask how to boost productivity without slashing the few breaks many Americans get.
Perhaps the real issue isn’t the number of holidays but the uneven distribution of benefits across the workforce. If the lowest-paid employees are left out of paid time off, then the system—not the calendar—needs fixing. Trump’s call for change could spark that debate, if framed with fairness in mind.
Ultimately, the holiday debate is a microcosm of larger questions about what drives America’s greatness. Productivity matters, but so does a workforce that isn’t burned out or resentful. Finding that sweet spot, rather than swinging the axe at every day off, might just be the smarter path to national renewal.
