On October 9, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation that reignited one of America’s most heated cultural debates: the meaning and future of Columbus Day. The move, which officially reinstates Columbus Day as a national holiday on Monday, October 13, 2025, has been met with both applause and outrage across the country, exposing deep divisions over history, identity, and the ongoing struggle for recognition among Indigenous peoples.
The proclamation, celebrated by Trump’s Cabinet with a round of applause, paints Christopher Columbus as “the original American hero” and “a giant of Western civilization,” according to Fox News and BBC. Trump’s message is clear: Columbus Day, in his view, is a tribute not only to the explorer but also to the contributions of the Italian-American community. The document accuses “left-wing radicals” of waging a “vicious and merciless campaign to erase our history, slander our heroes, and attack our heritage,” referencing the removal of Columbus statues and the renaming of the holiday in many places.
Yet, for millions of Americans, particularly Indigenous communities, the second Monday in October is not a day of celebration. It’s a reminder of the violence, forced conversion, slavery, and diseases that followed Columbus’s arrival in the Americas—events that devastated native populations and marked the beginning of centuries of colonial domination. According to NPR, Kerri Malloy, a professor of Native American Studies, put it succinctly: “You can’t tell the story of exploration without telling the story of exploitation.”
The controversy is hardly new, but it has become more pronounced in recent years. Between 2020 and 2024, a wave of states and cities across the U.S. replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, seeking to honor the history and resilience of native populations. By 2025, more than 17 states and hundreds of cities—including Seattle, Denver, Phoenix, and Los Angeles—had officially adopted Indigenous Peoples’ Day, often in defiance of federal policy. As USA Today and India.com report, the trend reflects a growing desire to reckon with America’s past and acknowledge the suffering inflicted upon Indigenous peoples.
The origins of Columbus Day are themselves rooted in a history of struggle and reconciliation. First institutionalized in 1892, the holiday was established after the lynching of 11 Italian immigrants in New Orleans—a gesture of goodwill toward the Italian-American community, who faced widespread discrimination at the time. The day became a federal holiday in 1934, and for generations, it served as a symbol of pride for Italian Americans, as well as a celebration of immigrant heritage and perseverance.
But the meaning of Columbus Day has shifted dramatically over time. For many, the holiday’s focus on Columbus as a heroic figure is deeply problematic. Critics argue that celebrating him amounts to ignoring or even glorifying the suffering of Indigenous peoples. The debate reached a new level in 2021 when President Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the same date as Columbus Day. The move was widely praised by progressive activists and historians, who saw it as a step toward acknowledging the darker chapters of American history.
Trump’s 2025 proclamation, however, represents a sharp reversal. By reinstating Columbus Day as the sole national holiday, he has positioned himself as a defender of traditional narratives and Italian-American pride. The proclamation makes no mention of the historical criticisms leveled against Columbus—violence, colonization, or the spread of deadly diseases. Instead, it calls for “reclaiming his legacy of faith, courage and perseverance,” framing the explorer’s Atlantic crossing in 1492 as a prelude to American independence and a foundational act of heroism.
This stance has found strong support among some lawmakers, particularly those with ties to the Italian-American community. Representative Michael Rulli, a Republican from Ohio, introduced a bill that would withhold federal funding from states and cities that choose to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day. “This is about every son and daughter of Italy, every Knights of Columbus, every pasta dinner on Sunday, and every communion—everything that makes our culture who we are, from Philadelphia to San Francisco,” Rulli told Fox News Digital. He emphasized that the holiday’s origin in 1892 was a direct response to the violence faced by Italian immigrants, and he argued that Indigenous peoples “deserve their own special day, but not this day.”
Rulli’s proposal underscores the high stakes of the debate. For many Italian Americans, Columbus Day is more than just a commemoration of a historical figure—it’s a symbol of acceptance and belonging in a country that once treated them as outsiders. “If you come from Italian American descent, you love what President Trump did. It was a wonderful olive branch to all Italian Americans,” Rulli said. At the same time, he insisted that his bill was “not meant to offend any of the indigenous people,” reiterating his support for a separate day dedicated to their heritage.
On the other side of the divide, Indigenous organizations swiftly denounced Trump’s proclamation as perpetuating a “colonial myth.” They point to the fact that, despite the federal government’s stance, a growing number of states and cities continue to honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day, reflecting a powerful trend toward historical reckoning and localized choice. As India.com notes, the cultural conflict between Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day remains significant, with the latter gaining traction as a way to honor the strength and resilience of Native Americans.
The legal landscape reflects this ongoing tug of war. While Columbus Day remains one of the 11 federal holidays in the United States—a status cemented by Congress in 1968—Indigenous Peoples’ Day has no such federal recognition. Its observance is determined entirely at the state, county, or municipal level, leading to a patchwork of celebrations and commemorations across the country. In states like Maine, Vermont, New Mexico, and South Dakota, Indigenous Peoples’ Day has replaced Columbus Day entirely, often as a paid holiday. In others, such as Oregon, Washington, and Rhode Island, both holidays are recognized on the same date.
The debate over Columbus’s origins adds another layer of complexity. While Trump’s proclamation describes him as Genoese, numerous studies have suggested alternative backgrounds, including Catalan, Portuguese, or Galician, fueling academic and popular speculation for decades. But for most Americans, the controversy isn’t about Columbus the man—it’s about what his legacy represents, and how the nation chooses to remember its past.
As the second Monday in October arrives, the question remains: Is it possible to celebrate cultural heritage without confronting the shadows of history? For now, the answer depends on where you live—and which stories your community chooses to honor.
