Columbus Day, Indigenous Peoples Day: Is October 13 Federal Holiday? What is the controversy?

US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation Thursday of the upcoming Columbus Day holiday, pointedly foregoing a similar honor for Indigenous American history introduced under his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden. Biden in 2021 became the first president to proclaim an Indigenous Peoples' Day, a move sought for decades by activists to honor the history of Native Americans. But he did not seek to fully replace the Columbus Day holiday as many activists wished. Trump has accused him of having done so.

"Columbus Day, we're back... We love the Italians," Trump said at a cabinet meeting, after signing the proclamation for the holiday on Monday.

Columbus Day 2025 Federal Holiday

Columbus Day, which is on Monday, October 13, has been criticized for decades due to the abuses inflicted on Native Americans by Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, and the devastating era of colonization kicked off by his 1492 arrival in the Caribbean.

Congress made the day a federal holiday in 1968, though it had been celebrated since the early days of the United States by Italian Americans.

Trump's move to not honor Indigenous Peoples' Day comes as his administration seeks to advance an "anti-woke" agenda -- such as by recognizing only two genders -- reversing course from the Biden era on many hot-button cultural issues.

The push has also included the walking back of efforts at highlighting injustices in American history such as slavery, notably through a review of the Smithsonian museums for "divisive or partisan narratives."

While Trump did not honor Native Americans with a special day alongside Columbus Day, he did however sign a proclamation on Thursday recognizing October 9, 2025 as "Leif Erikson Day" to celebrate the "legendary Norse Viking" and honor Nordic Americans.

FAQs

Q1. When is Columbus Day 2025?
A1. Columbus Day 2025 is on Monday, October 13.

Q2. When did U.S. Congress make Columbus Day 2025 Federal Holiday?
A2. U.S. Congress made the Columbus Day 2025 a federal holiday in 1968.