Critics of the growing trend to address the wrongs of colonialism were given a boost by President Donald Trump when he posted on Truth Social that he plans to “bring Columbus Day back from the ashes.”
Accusing “woke left” Democrats of attempting to “destroy the reputation of the famous Italian sailor,” Trump declared he would no longer recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day alongside Columbus Day on the second Monday in October.
In 2021, President Joe Biden formally acknowledged Indigenous Peoples’ Day on the same date, signaling a growing recognition of the importance of honoring indigenous cultures and confronting the legacy of colonization in the United States.
“You’ll be happy to know Christopher is going to make a major comeback. I am hereby reinstating Columbus Day under the same rules, dates and regulations as it has had for all the many decades before,” Trump said.
In recent decades, Columbus Day in the United States, like in many parts of Latin America, has faded as a widely observed holiday. It has been criticized by Native American advocates and others who argue that honoring Columbus is inappropriate due to his role in the oppression and exploitation of indigenous peoples.
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