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Despite it being April, former President Donald Trump has already declared that Columbus Day will be observed in October, as it has been traditionally.
This announcement, framed as another element of the culture war, reinforces to Trump’s supporters that he opposes political correctness and progressive ideas that favor Indigenous Peoples Day, which President Joe Biden has recognized alongside Columbus Day. Trump views Christopher Columbus—who, despite never setting foot in the United States, is credited with “discovering” America—as a key American figure akin to Confederate leaders like Robert E. Lee, who have faced scrutiny. In Trump’s view, Columbus is fundamental to American identity, while Indigenous Peoples Day is a harmful attempt to undermine it.
“The Democrats did everything possible to destroy Christopher Columbus, his reputation, and all of the Italians that love him so much,” the President posted Sunday on Truth Social, his alternative to the platform formerly known as Twitter. “They tore down his Statues, and put up nothing but ‘WOKE,’ or even worse, nothing at all! Well, 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 locations, as it has had for all of the many decades before!”
It should be noted that Trump cannot unilaterally declare a national holiday. While Biden has acknowledged Columbus Day annually, he has also recognized Indigenous Peoples Day; however, Congress has not made Indigenous Peoples Day a federal holiday. Similar congressional action would be required to remove Columbus Day from the list of federal holidays, which has not happened. Although there have been attempts in Congress to change the holiday’s name to diminish Columbus’s role, these efforts have failed. While some Columbus statues have been removed, many landmarks, like Columbus Circle in Manhattan, still bear his name, a monument erected following violence against Italian-American immigrants.
Columbus Day was always scheduled for October 13th, regardless of Trump’s statements. While he implied the end of Indigenous Peoples Day, he did not explicitly state this, but his supporters understood his message.
The presidency involves a significant performative aspect, where public actions are seen as a necessary part of the job. Trump amplifies this, using grievances and divisions to mobilize his base. His recent announcement is a direct appeal to voters who feel excluded by a political climate that questions the celebration of a colonizing explorer traditionally credited with “sailing the ocean blue” in 1492. However, the reality is much more complex, as Columbus’s arrival led to European expansionism and the devastation and enslavement of native populations. It is estimated that as many as 56 million native-born Americans died as a result of European arrival between 1492 and 1600.
Political memory is often manipulated for strategic purposes. A close relationship exists between history and nationalism, reinforcing an ideal that can sometimes lead to violence in defense of both a romanticized past and existing inequalities. Consider the rise of white Christian nationalism in response to increasing civil rights advancements and the backlash it has caused. The MAGA movement is rooted in nativist and nationalist sentiments.
Ironically, Columbus never set foot on mainland North America, yet he became a symbol for Italian-American immigrants facing discrimination in the 1890s. Columbus served as a representation of the nation’s idealized origins, similar to the Mayflower or Western pioneers. As Stephen Sondheim noted, the stories we tell shape our understanding, and these myths are difficult to change once established. This explains why everyone celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day and why taquerias are crowded on Cinco de Mayo, even though these holidays are less significant in their respective countries.
Ultimately, Trump’s actions are less about correcting history or promoting holiday sales and more about galvanizing his supporters by making them feel victimized and empowered. With a clear message, Trump encourages his base to stand firm on their beliefs, even when those beliefs are based on simplified or invented histories.
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