President Donald Trump has designated November 1–7, 2026, as Anti-Communism Week, issuing a presidential proclamation that declares America will never become a communist country and frames the observance as a defence of freedom against what the White House describes as a failed and oppressive ideology.
The proclamation, signed on November 3, 2026, revives a Cold War-era observance that was last widely marked in the United States during the Reagan administration. It calls on Americans to reflect on the victims of communism, to celebrate the American system of free enterprise and individual liberty, and to reject what it calls the false promises of collectivism.
The White House published the full text of the proclamation on its website, where it is listed among the president’s November 2026 proclamations. The document does not create new law or impose new restrictions, but it signals the administration’s ideological framing and its intention to use presidential proclamations to shape public debate.
What the Anti-Communism Week 2026 proclamation says
The proclamation opens by declaring that communism has brought suffering wherever it has been tried, citing the Soviet Union, China, Cuba, Venezuela and other countries where communist governments have ruled. It argues that the ideology promises equality but delivers poverty, repression and the loss of individual freedom.
It then turns to the American alternative, describing the United States as a country built on individual liberty, private property, free markets and limited government. The proclamation says those principles have produced prosperity and opportunity that no communist system has matched.
The document closes by calling on Americans to observe Anti-Communism Week with appropriate ceremonies and activities, and to teach younger generations about the dangers of communism. It says the week should be a time to honour those who suffered under communist regimes and to reaffirm America’s commitment to freedom.
Why Trump revived Anti-Communism Week in 2026
The revival of Anti-Communism Week fits within the Trump administration’s broader use of presidential proclamations to define cultural and ideological battles. Since returning to office, Trump has issued proclamations on a range of topics, using them to signal priorities and to frame political debates in moral terms.
Supporters of the proclamation say it is a necessary reminder of history at a time when younger Americans may be less familiar with the Cold War and the human cost of communist regimes. They argue that the week provides an opportunity to educate the public about the failures of collectivism and the value of American freedom.
Critics, however, say the proclamation is political rather than historical, aimed at labelling opponents as communists or socialists in contemporary debates about healthcare, education and economic policy. They argue that the term is often used loosely in American politics to describe policies that are not communist in any meaningful sense.
The history of Anti-Communism Week in America
Anti-Communism Week has its roots in the Cold War, when Congress and presidents used observances to highlight the threat of Soviet communism and to rally public support for American foreign policy. The most famous version, Captive Nations Week, was established by Congress in 1959 and observed annually during the Cold War.
President Ronald Reagan, in particular, used anti-communism rhetoric to frame the Soviet Union as an evil empire and to justify increased defence spending. The observances faded after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, as the immediate threat of communism receded.
Trump’s 2026 proclamation revives the concept for a new era, when the main communist power is China rather than the Soviet Union, and when domestic debates about socialism and collectivism have taken on new salience. The proclamation does not mention China by name in its opening, but its references to communist regimes clearly include the Chinese Communist Party.
What a presidential proclamation can — and cannot — do
A presidential proclamation is a formal statement by the president that can designate observances, declare emergencies or set out policy positions, but it does not have the force of law in the same way as an executive order or legislation. Proclamations are often used for ceremonial purposes, such as designating weeks or months for particular causes.
In this case, the Anti-Communism Week proclamation does not create new programmes, allocate funding or impose restrictions. Its effect is primarily symbolic and rhetorical, signalling the administration’s position and encouraging public observance.
That symbolic effect can still be significant, however, because presidential proclamations are widely reported and can shape media coverage and public debate. The White House’s decision to publish the proclamation prominently suggests it intends the week to be noticed.
Reactions to the Anti-Communism Week proclamation
Reactions to the proclamation have split along familiar political lines. Conservative commentators have welcomed it as a long-overdue recognition of communism’s victims and a defence of American values. Some have called for schools and civic groups to mark the week with events and educational programmes.
Progressive critics have questioned the timing and the motives, arguing that the proclamation is part of a broader effort to label political opponents as un-American. They point out that the term communism is often used in American politics to describe a wide range of policies, from universal healthcare to public education, that are not communist.
Historians have noted that the proclamation’s account of communism is selective, focusing on its failures while omitting the complexities of Cold War history, including American support for authoritarian regimes that opposed communism. That debate is likely to continue as the week is observed.
What happens during Anti-Communism Week November 1–7
During the week of November 1–7, the White House has encouraged Americans to participate in ceremonies, educational events and community activities that reflect on the victims of communism and celebrate American freedom. The proclamation does not specify particular events, leaving observance to individuals, schools and civic organisations.
Some conservative groups have already announced plans to mark the week with lectures, film screenings and social media campaigns. The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, a Washington-based organisation, is among those expected to hold events during the week.
For most Americans, the week is likely to pass without major public events, but the proclamation itself has already generated significant media coverage and online debate. That coverage may be the proclamation’s most lasting effect, as it frames communism as a live political issue rather than a historical one.
Sources
USN reviewed reporting from multiple outlets for this story. Read more from the White House and the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.