Former President Trump promises to restore Columbus Day traditions, accusing Democrats of tarnishing the explorer’s legacy.
Trump Declares: “Christopher Is Going to Make a Major Comeback”
Columbus Day controversy Trump Former President Donald Trump is once again diving headfirst into the heated debate surrounding Columbus Day. In a fiery April 27 post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump vowed he’s “bringing Columbus Day back from the ashes” — and he’s not mincing words about who he blames for its fall from grace.
For Trump, the attack on Christopher Columbus’s legacy is just one more example of what he calls the spread of “woke” ideology — Columbus Day controversy Trump something he’s made a centerpiece of his political mission.
Columbus Day’s Changing Story: From National Holiday to Divisive Symbol
Columbus Day, celebrated on the second Monday of October, has been a federal holiday since 1892, honoring the Italian explorer credited with “discovering” the Americas in 1492.
Columbus Day controversy Trump However, in recent decades, the holiday has faced growing criticism for glorifying colonialism, exploitation, and the genocide of Indigenous peoples. In response, many cities and states have chosen to rename the holiday Indigenous Peoples Day — or celebrate both holidays side by side — in a bid to recognize Native American history and resilience.
Trump, however, sees this shift as an erasure of American tradition and history.
Biden’s Approach: A Different Kind of Reflection
President Joe Biden took a different tone during his tenure, becoming the first U.S. president to formally recognize Indigenous Peoples Day through a 2021 proclamation.
In his message, Biden acknowledged the “painful history of wrongs and atrocities” committed against Native American communities by European explorers, including Columbus. He urged Americans to reflect honestly on the nation’s past — while still celebrating the courage and contributions of Italian Americans.
“It is a measure of our greatness as a Nation that we do not seek to bury these shameful episodes of our past,” Biden wrote. “We face them honestly, bring them to the light, and do all we can to address them.”
Trump: “Radical Activists Tried to Erase Columbus”
Columbus Day controversy Trump Trump has long been a vocal defender of Columbus, railing against what he describes as left-wing attempts to “destroy” the explorer’s reputation.Columbus Day controversy Trump In his 2020 Columbus Day proclamation, Trump accused “radical activists” of trying to replace Columbus’s achievements with a narrative focused solely on his shortcomings.
“These extremists seek to replace discussion of his vast contributions with talk of failings, his discoveries with atrocities, and his achievements with transgressions,” Trump said.
He also lamented the removal of Columbus statues across the country, saying, “They tore down his statues, and put up nothing but ‘WOKE,’ or even worse, nothing at all!”
The Promise: Columbus Day, Restored and Respected
In his recent Truth Social post, Trump made a bold promise to his supporters: under his leadership, Columbus Day will return in full force — same dates, same locations, same traditions.
“You’ll be happy to know, Christopher is going to make a major comeback,” Columbus Day controversy Trump Trump wrote. “I am hereby reinstating Columbus Day under the same rules, dates, and locations, as it has had for all of the many decades before!”
With the 2024 election season heating up, Trump’s latest pledge taps into a broader strategy: rallying his base around traditional symbols and fighting against the cultural shifts he blames on the political left.
Whether or not Columbus Day sees a full “comeback,” Columbus Day controversy Trump one thing is clear — Trump is once again making the culture wars a front-and-center battle in American politics.
