Overview

• President Donald Trump signed the proclamation on Oct. 9 during a White House cabinet meeting.
• The text praises Christopher Columbus as an “original American hero” and denounces left-wing activists for vandalizing his monuments.
• The proclamation reinstates exclusive federal recognition of Columbus Day and withdraws the Biden-era homage to Indigenous Peoples' Day.
• Trump framed the decision as honoring Italian-American contributions and highlighted a special bond between the United States and Italy.
• Columbus Day became a federal holiday in 1968, while President Joe Biden first recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day in 2021 alongside Columbus Day.