Overview

• President Trump signed an Oct. 9 proclamation praising Christopher Columbus as “the original American hero” and restoring the holiday’s exclusive designation.
• The move rescinds the Biden-era recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day that was first federally acknowledged in 2021.
• The proclamation calls for ceremonies to mark the holiday and directs that U.S. flags be displayed on public buildings.
• The White House frames the step as part of an effort to “restore the truth” about American history, including reviews of Smithsonian materials labeled “divisive.”
• Indigenous leaders and historians criticize the shift for downplaying the harms of colonization, while Trump highlights Italian-American heritage in defending the change.