President Donald Trump will celebrate the Hispanic Heritage Month in the White House this Friday, a commemoration that has changed sharply given the president’s tense relationship with the Latino community.
When last month the billionaire proclaimed the celebration of the month, which runs from September 15 to October 15, the president referred to the complicated situation of Venezuela and Cuba, issues diametrically opposed to those tackled in recent years.
Last year, former President Barack Obama took advantage of this date to vindicate undocumented Americans as “at all levels, except for a piece of paper,” references that Trump eliminated.
“To ensure a more prosperous future, a free America, we are working to advance and maintain democracy in the region and ensure free and fair trade among our regional partners,” Trump said in the proclamation.
“My Government,” he added, “is dedicated to guaranteeing Human Rights in Cuba and Venezuela, and to strengthening cultural and philosophical ties with our Latin American partners.”
Trump said that “since the early days of the United States … they have played a prominent and important role,” adding that today they “continue to embody that pioneering spirit.”
A White House spokeswoman told Efe today on condition of anonymity that precisely “the purpose of the event is to commemorate Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrate the many contributions of Hispanic Americans” to the country.
“Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration that runs from September 15 to October 15 inviting all Americans to honor Hispanic American contributions to the United States,” he added.
However, the multimillionaire was not invited to the Gala of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI), to which all the presidents have been invited since its founding 40 years ago, and which marks the start of this commemorative month after year year.
In fact, since Jimmy Carter in 1979, all the presidents of the country have attended at least one occasion to the annual event of the CHCI, with the exception of the president George H.W. Bush, although he was invited.
According to the White House, Friday’s event will take place in the East Room of the White House, where more than 200 Hispanic business, community and religious leaders as well as guests from across the country have been called to join the celebration .
