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

Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday, October 9, marking Columbus Day 2025, 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.

"Outrageously, in recent years, Christopher Columbus has been a prime target of a vicious and merciless campaign to erase our history, slander our heroes, and attack our heritage," reads the proclamation, ahead of the October 13 holiday.

In the proclamation, Trump lauded Columbus as “a giant of Western civilization” whose 1492 voyage “paved the way for the ultimate triumph of Western civilization” and the founding of the United States. He wrote that his administration would “reclaim his extraordinary legacy of faith, courage, perseverance, and virtue” and end what he called a “vicious campaign to slander our heroes.”


The entire room applauds in the press conference when he says, "Columbus Day—we're back! We're back, Italians!" "We're calling it Columbus Day."
"That was the press that broke out in applause!’ He continued and said, ‘I have never seen that happen before.’


Former President Joe Biden recognized both Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day in 2021, despite widespread criticism that honoring the explorer glorifies native peoples' exploitation and genocide as per USA Today. Biden was the first president to recognize Indigenous People's Day.

Columbus day vs. indigenous peoples’ day

Columbus Day, a federal holiday since 1971, has long been celebrated in honor of Christopher Columbus and embraced by many Italian Americans as a symbol of cultural pride, as per Fox News. However, in recent years, the holiday has become a flashpoint for debate, as activists and Indigenous groups argue that celebrating Columbus overlooks the suffering of Native Americans that followed European colonization.

Critics contend that Columbus’s arrival in 1492 marked the beginning of centuries of violence, displacement, and genocide against Indigenous peoples. They have pushed to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a day that recognizes and honors the history, resilience, and cultures of Native Americans.

Several US cities and states have since adopted Indigenous Peoples’ Day in place of Columbus Day, and statues of Columbus have been removed or toppled during protests, particularly amid the social unrest of 2020.

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