Remember when elected officials used to understand what patriotism meant? There was a time when Memorial Day weekend meant one thing across America—honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. It was a sacred time, regardless of political persuasion, when leaders would put aside their personal agendas to stand united in gratitude for fallen heroes.

But in today’s America, some progressive mayors seem to have misplaced their calendar—or perhaps their priorities. While families across the nation visited cemeteries and attended parades to honor our military’s fallen, certain city leaders found themselves preoccupied with celebrating… well, just about everything else.

Chicago’s Mayor Brandon Johnson provided a perfect case study in misplaced priorities this past Memorial Day weekend. While Americans across the country paid solemn tribute to fallen service members, Johnson took to social media with an enthusiastic celebration of “Africa Day,” complete with a video message brimming with excitement that was conspicuously missing from his perfunctory Memorial Day acknowledgments.

From ‘The Post Millennial’:

“I am proud to join you in recognizing and celebrating Africa Day. The continent of Africa is made up of 1.2 billion people with diverse countries full of rich traditions, cultures, and heritage,” Johnson said in a video posted to social media on Sunday.

Stars, Stripes, and Misplaced Priorities

The contrast couldn’t be more striking. In his Africa Day message, Johnson enthusiastically proclaimed, “Happy Africa Day, everyone!” while elaborating that “the African diaspora can be found in cities and countries around the globe, and right here in Chicago. Our proud African communities have made indelible contributions to the growth and fabric of our amazing city.”

Meanwhile, Johnson’s Memorial Day acknowledgment came in the form of a shared video of his appearance at a wreath-laying ceremony—with none of the personal commentary or enthusiasm he reserved for other celebrations. The difference in tone was unmistakable, and Chicago residents noticed.

It wasn’t just Africa Day that captured the mayor’s attention during the solemn holiday weekend. Johnson also found time to celebrate what he referred to as the “Latine community” in honor of a music festival—employing a term that, according to Pew Research, only about 3% of Latinos actually prefer to use. Priorities, priorities.

When Your Approval Rating Needs a Microscope

If Johnson were riding high on a wave of public support, perhaps he could afford such tone-deaf holiday messaging. But with approval ratings hovering at a dismal 7%—yes, you read that correctly, seven percent—one might expect a more careful approach to a holiday deeply meaningful to many Americans.

The mayor’s peculiar holiday priorities come at a particularly sensitive time, as the Trump administration’s Department of Justice has launched an investigation into Johnson’s hiring practices. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon noted in a letter to Johnson that the investigation stems from “information suggesting that you have made hiring decisions solely on the basis of race.”

The letter specifically referenced Johnson’s own words about “ensuring that our people get a chance to grow their business”—language that raised red flags about potential discrimination in city hiring practices.

Trading American Heroes for Global Applause

What does it say about leadership when acknowledging America’s fallen heroes becomes a secondary concern to celebrating foreign nations’ heritage during one of our most sacred patriotic weekends? For many conservatives, it represents a troubling pattern of progressive governance that places identity-based celebrations above unifying national traditions.

The timing of Johnson’s enthusiastic international celebrations during Memorial Day weekend isn’t just awkward—it’s emblematic of a leadership approach that seems determined to focus on anything but the core responsibilities of governance. With Chicago facing serious challenges from crime to fiscal instability, residents might reasonably expect their mayor to at least get the basics of civic leadership right—like appropriately honoring American traditions and holidays.

One might also wonder: if the mayor can’t properly prioritize Memorial Day, what other fundamental aspects of leadership might be falling through the cracks in Chicago?

Key Takeaways:

• Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson enthusiastically celebrated “Africa Day” during Memorial Day weekend while giving minimal attention to honoring America’s fallen heroes.
• Johnson’s priorities come amid rock-bottom 7% approval ratings and a DOJ investigation into potentially discriminatory hiring practices.
• The contrast highlights a growing disconnect between progressive city leadership and traditional American values that transcend political differences.

Sources: The Post Millennial, townhall.com