President Donald Trump marked Black History Month at the White House on Thursday, preserving a tradition by holding a reception at the same time that his executive order ending the federal government's diversity, equity and inclusion programs has disrupted its observance elsewhere. The ceremony comes as Trump has called DEI programs “discrimination” and pushed to eradicate diversity programs from the government, directed that DEI workers eventually be laid off and exerted similar pressure on the private sector to shift to an exclusive focus on merit. Trump was joined by golf legend Tiger Woods as he addressed hundreds of guests in a reception in the East Room. Also joining Trump were Black political figures and activists who have been his vocal supporters. Invited guests, according to a White House official, included Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina; Republican Rep. John James of Michigan; prison reform advocate Alice Johnson, whom he pardoned in 2020; Alveda King, a niece of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.; and Herschel Walker, the football legend who is Trump’s choice as U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas.