Overview

• At a White House Cabinet meeting, staff secretary Will Scharf presented the document and Trump signed it as attendees applauded, saying, “We’re calling it Columbus Day… We’re back, Italians.”
• The proclamation designates October 13, 2025, as Columbus Day and praises Christopher Columbus as “the original American hero,” accusing “left-wing radicals” of trying to erase his legacy.
• Presidential proclamations do not change federal holiday law, and observance remains uneven, with Pew Research noting only about 30 states officially mark the day and roughly 20 states plus two territories offer it as a paid holiday.
• Coverage characterizes the move as a break from President Biden’s 2021 practice of recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day alongside Columbus Day, even as many states and cities continue to observe one or both.
• Trump also signed a separate proclamation recognizing October 9 as Leif Erikson Day, honoring the Viking explorer’s spirit of exploration.