Key Points and Implications

• Symbolic Proclamation: The executive order is primarily a ceremonial act, aiming to raise awareness rather than implementing concrete legal changes. It lacks specific directives for governmental agencies or individuals.
• Limited Scope of Action: The order's call for "programs, ceremonies, and prayers" is a non-binding suggestion, meaning it does not mandate specific actions from the citizens of the United States.
• Potential for Symbolic Gestures: While it condemns antisemitism, the order does not propose specific strategies or policies to combat it, potentially reducing it to a symbolic gesture.
• Focus on a Specific Tragedy: The focus on the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation might be interpreted as prioritizing one tragedy and one group's suffering, though the Holocaust's unique historical significance arguably justifies this focus.
• Reaffirmation of Ties to Israel: The order's reaffirmation of ties with Israel could be seen as linking domestic remembrance with a specific foreign policy stance, despite using general and historically consistent language.
• Ethical Considerations: While honoring the victims of the Holocaust is paramount, focusing solely on one event risks marginalizing other genocides and instances of persecution, raising questions about the scope of remembrance efforts.

Constitutional Analysis

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: White House Commemoration - The White House marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Memorial Observances - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is observed at the site of the former death camp.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Commemoration - World leaders and Holocaust survivors gather at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau Commemoration Event - The main commemoration event will begin at 4:00 PM CET.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th Anniversary - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated with a main event at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
• 2025-01-27: Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
• 2025-01-27: WJC Commemoration - World Jewish Congress will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a commemoration and global #WeRemember campaign.
• 2024-12-18: Tavily Search Results - A search query for "National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 2025" returned several results related to the 75th anniversary in 2020 and the upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025. It appears that there will be a major international event in Poland.
• Symbolic Proclamation: The executive order is primarily a ceremonial act, aiming to raise awareness rather than implementing concrete legal changes. It lacks specific directives for governmental agencies or individuals.
• Limited Scope of Action: The order's call for "programs, ceremonies, and prayers" is a non-binding suggestion, meaning it does not mandate specific actions from the citizens of the United States.
• Potential for Symbolic Gestures: While it condemns antisemitism, the order does not propose specific strategies or policies to combat it, potentially reducing it to a symbolic gesture.
• Focus on a Specific Tragedy: The focus on the 80th anniversary of Auschwitz liberation might be interpreted as prioritizing one tragedy and one group's suffering, though the Holocaust's unique historical significance arguably justifies this focus.
• Reaffirmation of Ties to Israel: The order's reaffirmation of ties with Israel could be seen as linking domestic remembrance with a specific foreign policy stance, despite using general and historically consistent language.
• Ethical Considerations: While honoring the victims of the Holocaust is paramount, focusing solely on one event risks marginalizing other genocides and instances of persecution, raising questions about the scope of remembrance efforts.

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: White House Commemoration - The White House marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Memorial Observances - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is observed at the site of the former death camp.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Commemoration - World leaders and Holocaust survivors gather at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau Commemoration Event - The main commemoration event will begin at 4:00 PM CET.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th Anniversary - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated with a main event at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
• 2025-01-27: Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
• 2025-01-27: WJC Commemoration - World Jewish Congress will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a commemoration and global #WeRemember campaign.
• 2024-12-18: Tavily Search Results - A search query for "National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 2025" returned several results related to the 75th anniversary in 2020 and the upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025. It appears that there will be a major international event in Poland.

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: White House Commemoration - The White House marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Memorial Observances - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is observed at the site of the former death camp.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Commemoration - World leaders and Holocaust survivors gather at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau Commemoration Event - The main commemoration event will begin at 4:00 PM CET.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th Anniversary - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated with a main event at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
• 2025-01-27: Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
• 2025-01-27: WJC Commemoration - World Jewish Congress will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a commemoration and global #WeRemember campaign.
• 2024-12-18: Tavily Search Results - A search query for "National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 2025" returned several results related to the 75th anniversary in 2020 and the upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025. It appears that there will be a major international event in Poland.

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: White House Commemoration - The White House marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Memorial Observances - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is observed at the site of the former death camp.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Commemoration - World leaders and Holocaust survivors gather at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau Commemoration Event - The main commemoration event will begin at 4:00 PM CET.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th Anniversary - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated with a main event at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
• 2025-01-27: Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
• 2025-01-27: WJC Commemoration - World Jewish Congress will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a commemoration and global #WeRemember campaign.
• 2024-12-18: Tavily Search Results - A search query for "National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 2025" returned several results related to the 75th anniversary in 2020 and the upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025. It appears that there will be a major international event in Poland.

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: White House Commemoration - The White House marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Memorial Observances - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is observed at the site of the former death camp.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Commemoration - World leaders and Holocaust survivors gather at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau Commemoration Event - The main commemoration event will begin at 4:00 PM CET.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th Anniversary - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated with a main event at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
• 2025-01-27: Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
• 2025-01-27: WJC Commemoration - World Jewish Congress will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a commemoration and global #WeRemember campaign.
• 2024-12-18: Tavily Search Results - A search query for "National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 2025" returned several results related to the 75th anniversary in 2020 and the upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025. It appears that there will be a major international event in Poland.

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: White House Commemoration - The White House marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Memorial Observances - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is observed at the site of the former death camp.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Commemoration - World leaders and Holocaust survivors gather at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau Commemoration Event - The main commemoration event will begin at 4:00 PM CET.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th Anniversary - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated with a main event at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
• 2025-01-27: Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
• 2025-01-27: WJC Commemoration - World Jewish Congress will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a commemoration and global #WeRemember campaign.
• 2024-12-18: Tavily Search Results - A search query for "National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 2025" returned several results related to the 75th anniversary in 2020 and the upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025. It appears that there will be a major international event in Poland.

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: White House Commemoration - The White House marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Memorial Observances - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is observed at the site of the former death camp.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Commemoration - World leaders and Holocaust survivors gather at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau Commemoration Event - The main commemoration event will begin at 4:00 PM CET.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th Anniversary - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated with a main event at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
• 2025-01-27: Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
• 2025-01-27: WJC Commemoration - World Jewish Congress will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a commemoration and global #WeRemember campaign.
• 2024-12-18: Tavily Search Results - A search query for "National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 2025" returned several results related to the 75th anniversary in 2020 and the upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025. It appears that there will be a major international event in Poland.

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: White House Commemoration - The White House marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Memorial Observances - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is observed at the site of the former death camp.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Commemoration - World leaders and Holocaust survivors gather at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau Commemoration Event - The main commemoration event will begin at 4:00 PM CET.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th Anniversary - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated with a main event at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
• 2025-01-27: Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
• 2025-01-27: WJC Commemoration - World Jewish Congress will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a commemoration and global #WeRemember campaign.
• 2024-12-18: Tavily Search Results - A search query for "National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 2025" returned several results related to the 75th anniversary in 2020 and the upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025. It appears that there will be a major international event in Poland.

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: White House Commemoration - The White House marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Memorial Observances - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is observed at the site of the former death camp.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Commemoration - World leaders and Holocaust survivors gather at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau Commemoration Event - The main commemoration event will begin at 4:00 PM CET.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th Anniversary - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated with a main event at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
• 2025-01-27: Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
• 2025-01-27: WJC Commemoration - World Jewish Congress will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a commemoration and global #WeRemember campaign.
• 2024-12-18: Tavily Search Results - A search query for "National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 2025" returned several results related to the 75th anniversary in 2020 and the upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025. It appears that there will be a major international event in Poland.

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: White House Commemoration - The White House marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Memorial Observances - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is observed at the site of the former death camp.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Commemoration - World leaders and Holocaust survivors gather at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau Commemoration Event - The main commemoration event will begin at 4:00 PM CET.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th Anniversary - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated with a main event at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
• 2025-01-27: Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
• 2025-01-27: WJC Commemoration - World Jewish Congress will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a commemoration and global #WeRemember campaign.
• 2024-12-18: Tavily Search Results - A search query for "National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 2025" returned several results related to the 75th anniversary in 2020 and the upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025. It appears that there will be a major international event in Poland.

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: White House Commemoration - The White House marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Memorial Observances - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is observed at the site of the former death camp.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Commemoration - World leaders and Holocaust survivors gather at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau Commemoration Event - The main commemoration event will begin at 4:00 PM CET.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th Anniversary - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated with a main event at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
• 2025-01-27: Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
• 2025-01-27: WJC Commemoration - World Jewish Congress will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a commemoration and global #WeRemember campaign.
• 2024-12-18: Tavily Search Results - A search query for "National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 2025" returned several results related to the 75th anniversary in 2020 and the upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025. It appears that there will be a major international event in Poland.

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: White House Commemoration - The White House marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Memorial Observances - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is observed at the site of the former death camp.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Commemoration - World leaders and Holocaust survivors gather at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau Commemoration Event - The main commemoration event will begin at 4:00 PM CET.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th Anniversary - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated with a main event at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
• 2025-01-27: Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
• 2025-01-27: WJC Commemoration - World Jewish Congress will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a commemoration and global #WeRemember campaign.
• 2024-12-18: Tavily Search Results - A search query for "National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 2025" returned several results related to the 75th anniversary in 2020 and the upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025. It appears that there will be a major international event in Poland.

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: White House Commemoration - The White House marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Memorial Observances - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is observed at the site of the former death camp.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Commemoration - World leaders and Holocaust survivors gather at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau Commemoration Event - The main commemoration event will begin at 4:00 PM CET.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th Anniversary - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated with a main event at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
• 2025-01-27: Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
• 2025-01-27: WJC Commemoration - World Jewish Congress will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a commemoration and global #WeRemember campaign.
• 2024-12-18: Tavily Search Results - A search query for "National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 2025" returned several results related to the 75th anniversary in 2020 and the upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025. It appears that there will be a major international event in Poland.

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: White House Commemoration - The White House marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Memorial Observances - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is observed at the site of the former death camp.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Commemoration - World leaders and Holocaust survivors gather at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau Commemoration Event - The main commemoration event will begin at 4:00 PM CET.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th Anniversary - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated with a main event at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
• 2025-01-27: Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
• 2025-01-27: WJC Commemoration - World Jewish Congress will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a commemoration and global #WeRemember campaign.
• 2024-12-18: Tavily Search Results - A search query for "National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 2025" returned several results related to the 75th anniversary in 2020 and the upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025. It appears that there will be a major international event in Poland.

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: White House Commemoration - The White House marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Memorial Observances - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is observed at the site of the former death camp.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz Commemoration - World leaders and Holocaust survivors gather at Auschwitz-Birkenau to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau Commemoration Event - The main commemoration event will begin at 4:00 PM CET.
• 2025-01-27: Auschwitz-Birkenau 80th Anniversary - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated with a main event at the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
• 2025-01-27: Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025 - The 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz will be commemorated at the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum.
• 2025-01-27: WJC Commemoration - World Jewish Congress will mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz with a commemoration and global #WeRemember campaign.
• 2024-12-18: Tavily Search Results - A search query for "National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz 2025" returned several results related to the 75th anniversary in 2020 and the upcoming 80th anniversary in 2025. It appears that there will be a major international event in Poland.

Establishment Clause Concerns

The Executive Order's mention of "prayers" and its focus on the Jewish community and Israel could raise concerns under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion. However, the call to observe the day is non-compulsory, and the order also condemns “religious bigotry of all forms," indicating a broader intent of promoting tolerance, not endorsing a specific faith. The Supreme Court's ruling in Lemon v. Kurtzman, 403 U.S. 602 (1971), established a three-part test to determine if a law violates the Establishment Clause, which states that a law must have a secular legislative purpose, must not advance or inhibit religion, and must not foster excessive entanglement with religion. Given the symbolic nature of the order, and its non-compulsory language, the order does not appear to violate this established precedent. This is consistent with past proclamations made by presidents of the United States. For example, a similar proclamation was issued by President Obama in 2010 Presidential Proclamation--National Day of Prayer, 2010. In that proclamation, President Obama called upon American citizens to "observe this day with prayer". The Supreme Court has consistently held that symbolic acts, such as these, that invoke religion in a general sense, do not violate the Establishment Clause.

Separation of Powers

Executive Orders must respect the separation of powers and not infringe on legislative authority, as outlined in Article II of the Constitution. This order, being a symbolic proclamation, falls within the President's executive authority to set national observances. It does not create new laws, allocate funds, or direct specific governmental actions that would overstep executive power or legislative powers, thus it does not appear to violate the separation of powers principle.

Potential Challenges

While the order appears to be within executive authority, potential legal challenges could arise from groups arguing that the call for "prayers" implies an endorsement of religion. However, this is unlikely, due to the order's lack of binding requirements.

Risk Score Justification

The risk score for this executive order is 1, representing minimal or theoretical constitutional concerns. The order is primarily symbolic and ceremonial, falling within the established tradition of presidential proclamations. While the mention of "prayers" could be seen as tangentially related to the Establishment Clause, the language is consistent with similar proclamations and is understood as a non-mandatory suggestion for remembrance, not a government endorsement of religion. The order does not compel specific actions from citizens or allocate new funding, and therefore does not appear to infringe upon specific constitutional rights or overstep the bounds of executive authority.

Proposed Improvements

• Expand the Scope of Remembrance: The order could broaden its scope to acknowledge other genocides and forms of persecution, promoting a more inclusive message of tolerance and remembrance. The order should consider specifically mentioning other affected groups and historical events.
• Include Concrete Actions: To make the order more than a symbolic gesture, it could include specific, actionable steps the government will take to combat antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, such as funding educational programs or law enforcement initiatives. The order should include a call to action from other government departments.
• Refine the Language Regarding Israel: While reaffirming ties with Israel is understandable given the context, it could be worded in a way that doesn't implicitly tie the remembrance day to a specific foreign policy stance. The order could also explicitly mention support for a two-state solution.
• Clarify Intent: Include specific language that emphasizes the non-compulsory nature of the call for "prayers" and reaffirm the government's commitment to the separation of church and state.

Final Summary

This Executive Order designates January 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. The order is primarily a symbolic act of remembrance, intended to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust and condemn antisemitism. Constitutionally, it appears to be within the President's executive authority to issue proclamations. While it mentions "prayers," it does so in a non-mandatory manner, mitigating Establishment Clause concerns. The order does not overstep separation of powers by enacting new laws or directing specific government actions beyond encouraging voluntary remembrance activities. Key issues include its ceremonial nature, its lack of concrete legal or policy directives, and its potential to be perceived as prioritizing one group's suffering over others. For the order to have a meaningful impact, it needs to be followed by concrete actions, such as programs to combat antisemitism and religious bigotry.

Original Executive Order

Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the Nazi concentration camp in Poland that stood at the center of the Holocaust and focus for their systematic slaughter of the Jewish people. Between 1940 and 1945, more than one million Jews, religious leaders, disabled persons, and other innocent victims were viciously and mercilessly executed in Auschwitz at the hands of the evil Nazi regime — culminating in one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this solemn day, America joins the Jewish community, the people of Poland, and the entire world in mourning the lives lost, the souls battered, the heroes forgotten, and the countless men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom.

Over those 5 gruesome years at Auschwitz, mothers and fathers lost their children, daughters and sons lost their parents, and wives and husbands lost their soulmates to the deadly scourge of anti-Semitism — leaving an unfillable void in their hearts.

To those who lost family members and loved ones, we pray that Almighty God will grant you comfort and strength. To those who survived the atrocities at Auschwitz, we honor your courage, we salute your sacrifice, and we offer you our enduring love and unceasing gratitude. And to every person touched by the calamities of the Holocaust, we give you our unwavering devotion and eternal promise to never forget the evils that took place during that dark time in history.

Sadly, despite decades of wisdom shared by survivors, years of reflection on the depravities committed, and decades of progress towards peace, the poison of anti-Semitism still courses through the veins of cowards in dark corners of the world. So today, we renew our promise that anti-Semitism has no place in a civilized society, no place in our foreign policy, and no place in the United States of America.

In the years since the liberation of Auschwitz on this day eight decades ago, the grave offenses that took place during the Holocaust and the cries of the Jewish people have echoed throughout the halls of history. In the wake of the oppression, persecution, and injustice committed at Auschwitz and elsewhere in Europe, the Jewish people gallantly persevered to re-found their homeland in the modern State of Israel — our mighty friend. To this day, the Jewish people proudly represent the peak of human tenacity and the pinnacle of human triumph.

As we commemorate this somber occasion, we pay tribute to the undying spirit of the Jewish community. We reaffirm our commitment to educating our children and every future generation about the horrors that took place within the confines of Auschwitz and other concentration and death camps. We renew our resolve to end anti-Semitism and religious bigotry of all forms. We proudly reassert our strong bonds of friendship with the State of Israel. And we declare the timeless truth that every human being is a child of God and inherently worthy of dignity and respect.

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 27, 2025, as a National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz. On this day, I call upon every American citizen to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and prayers commemorating the victims of the Holocaust and honoring the sacrifices of the men and women who helped liberate the victims of the Nazis at Auschwitz.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.

• 2025-01-27: National Day of Remembrance Proclamation - January 27, 2025, proclaimed as National Day of Remembrance of the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz.
• 2025-01-27: [White House Commemoration](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/the-national-day-of-remembrance-of-the-80th-anniversary-of-