Overview
- President Trump announced his intention to 'bring Columbus Day back from the ashes,' blaming Democrats for diminishing the holiday's significance and Christopher Columbus's reputation.
- Columbus Day remains a federal holiday, despite Trump's claims, as only Congress has the authority to alter federal holiday designations.
- Indigenous Peoples' Day has replaced Columbus Day in over 200 cities and several states, while New York, Rhode Island, and Nebraska officially recognize both holidays.
- Efforts to federally replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day, led by Senator Martin Heinrich and others in 2023, stalled without reaching a vote in Congress.
- The debate over Columbus Day underscores broader cultural and partisan divides, reflecting tensions over historical memory and representation in the United States.