Trump Signs Proclamation to ‘Reclaim’ Columbus’ Legacy Amid Holiday Debate
In a bold move echoing his first term, President Donald Trump signed a presidential proclamation on October 9, 2025, declaring Monday, October 13, as Columbus Day and vowing to “reclaim” the explorer’s legacy from what he called “left-wing radicals” bent on erasing history. The signing, done during a Cabinet meeting, drew spontaneous applause, with Trump declaring, “We’re back, Italians!”—a nod to Italian-American pride in the Genoese-born navigator who reached the Americas in 1492.
The White House proclamation praises Christopher Columbus as an “American hero” whose “faith, courage, and perseverance” sparked Western civilization’s expansion, crediting him with laying the foundation for the United States. Notably absent is any mention of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a designation adopted by many states and cities since the 1990s to honor Native American heritage and acknowledge the genocide and enslavement that followed European contact—moves Trump has long criticized as “woke” revisionism.
This isn’t Trump’s first rodeo with the holiday. During his 2017-2021 presidency, he issued similar proclamations, but the pushback grew as over 100 U.S. cities and 16 states shifted to Indigenous Peoples’ Day by 2021, citing Columbus’ role in the deaths of millions through disease, violence, and forced labor. Historians like Andrés Reséndez, author of The Other Slavery, argue the explorer’s voyages initiated centuries of exploitation, with Columbus personally overseeing brutal policies in Hispaniola. Trump, however, frames the narrative as a defense of “extraordinary achievements,” urging Americans to celebrate Columbus’ “bold vision” without apology.
Public reactions split sharply along partisan lines, igniting fresh online firestorms just days before the holiday. On X (formerly Twitter), supporters like podcaster @Civpatriotpod hailed it as a win for “truth and Italian pride,” sharing video of the signing with captions like “End of Woke.” Italian-American groups echoed the sentiment, with one Facebook post from Long Island Italians declaring it a reaffirmation of federal recognition. Critics, including Native advocates, decried it as erasure; a Bay Area YouTube segment highlighted local protests, with one activist calling it “a slap in the face to survivors.” NPR reports experts view the move as symbolic red meat for Trump’s base, potentially fueling midterm culture wars.
For U.S. readers, this proclamation carries tangible ripples. Politically, it bolsters Trump’s appeal among working-class Italian-Americans in swing states like Pennsylvania and New York, where Columbus statues have been flashpoints—some even calling for fountain repairs in D.C. as a nod to heritage. Culturally, it underscores ongoing tensions in education and public monuments, with schools divided on curricula that “reclaim” versus reckon with history. Economically, expect boosted tourism at sites like Columbus Circle in Manhattan, while Indigenous-led events push back with boycotts.
As debates rage on social media—with X posts surging 300% since the signing—the holiday weekend could see parades in some cities and protests in others, highlighting America’s unresolved grapple with its founding myths.