On January 1, 2026, the White House released a message marking the anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. The statement recalls President Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the document on January 1, 1863, describing it as a pivotal moment in American history that led to the liberation of millions enslaved and shaped the nation’s path.
The message highlights that as the Civil War entered its second year, President Lincoln issued what he called a “fit and necessary” military order that changed the course of the conflict. The Emancipation Proclamation declared that those held in slavery in rebellious states “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free,” shifting the war’s purpose to one centered on liberty and justice.
According to the statement, "The Emancipation Proclamation set the stage for the ultimate abolition of slavery, culminating in the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment nearly 2 years later. It endures to this day as a monumental testament to the divine truth that equality is a sacred birthright granted not by government but by the hand of Almighty God. It signaled the dawn of a new day in our Nation’s journey toward liberty and the inalienable rights of every citizen. Its signing remains a morally defining moment in our national story and an enduring legacy of President Lincoln’s conviction that our country—which launched a revolution in the pursuit of freedom and human dignity—is 'the last best hope of Earth.'"
The message concludes: "Today, in President Lincoln’s honor, we recommit to the eternal truth that the United States of America is blessed by God; is bound together by justice; and was, is, and will forever be a great Nation."
