‘Columbus Day—we’re back!’: Trump proclaims October 13 holiday as nation remains split over indigenous peoples’ day

Donald Trump issued a statement marking Columbus Day 2025 on Thursday, October 9, praising Christopher Columbus as a “true American hero” and condemning what he described as efforts by “left-wing radicals” to erase the explorer’s legacy.

“In recent years, in an outrageous way, Christopher Columbus has been the primary target of a brutal and merciless campaign to erase our history, slander our heroes, and attack our heritage,” the proclamation Trump signed Oct. 9 ahead of the Oct. 13 recess said. The statement is included.

In the statement, Trump praised Columbus as a “giant of Western civilization” whose voyage in 1492 “paved the way for the ultimate triumph of Western civilization and the founding of the United States.” He wrote that his administration would “claim his extraordinary legacy of faith, courage, perseverance and virtue” and end what he called “the vicious campaign to slander our heroes.”
At the press conference, the entire room applauds: “Columbus Day, we’re back! We’re back, Italians!” “We call it Columbus Day.”
“It was the sound of the press applauding!” He continued and said, ‘I’ve never seen this happen before.’

Former President Joe Biden It recognized both Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day in 2021, despite widespread criticism that honoring the explorer glorifies the exploitation and genocide of indigenous peoples, according to USA Today. Biden became the first president to recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day

Columbus Day, a federal holiday since 1971, has long been celebrated in honor of Christopher Columbus and adopted by many Italian Americans as a symbol of cultural pride, according to Fox News. But in recent years, the holiday has become a point of contention as activists and Native groups argue that celebrating Columbus ignores the suffering of Native Americans in the wake of European colonization.
Critics argue that Columbus’s arrival in 1492 marked the beginning of centuries of violence, displacement, and genocide against indigenous peoples. They sought to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day, a day that recognizes and honors the history, resilience, and culture of Native Americans.
Many U.S. cities and states have since adopted Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day, and statues of Columbus have been removed or toppled during protests, particularly amid civil unrest in 2020.

Former Vice President Kamala Harris voiced her support for this change, urging Americans to confront what she called the country’s “shameful past” tied to European exploration and colonization.