Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump dropped a bombshell on April 27, 2025, announcing that Columbus Day, the federal holiday marking Christopher Columbus’s 1492 arrival in the Americas, will no longer share its spotlight with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. The move, which reverses a growing trend under previous administrations, has sparked a firestorm of debate over how America grapples with its past.
In a statement issued from the White House, Trump made his stance crystal clear. The second Monday in October, long celebrated as Columbus Day, will be recognized solely under that name. No dual acknowledgment, no nod to the native peoples who faced exploitation and displacement after Columbus’s voyages. The decision axes the practice, started during President Joe Biden’s term, of issuing proclamations that honored both Columbus and Indigenous communities on the same day.
The announcement came straight from the top, with Trump’s team releasing an official statement that leaned hard into restoring what they called “traditional American icons.” It’s a move that aligns with the president’s broader push to champion historical figures like Columbus, who he argues have been unfairly maligned by critics. The statement didn’t mince words, accusing past Democratic efforts of “denigrating” the Italian explorer’s legacy.
Columbus Day, first declared a federal holiday in 1934, has roots in celebrating Italian-American heritage, particularly after a wave of anti-Italian violence in the late 19th century. One grim catalyst: the 1891 lynching of 11 Italian immigrants in New Orleans, which spurred President Benjamin Harrison to proclaim the first Columbus Day the following year. For decades, the holiday stood as a point of pride for Italian-American communities, with parades and festivities from New York to San Francisco.
But the holiday’s meaning has been a lightning rod for years. Activists have long argued that celebrating Columbus glorifies a figure whose arrival kicked off centuries of violence against Indigenous peoples. By the early 2020s, dozens of states and cities had either replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day or recognized both. Biden’s administration formalized the dual approach, issuing proclamations that called out the “painful history” of colonization while still noting Columbus’s navigational feats.
Trump’s decision slams the door on that balancing act. The White House statement, released on April 27, framed the change as a return to “honoring the courage and contributions of Christopher Columbus.” No mention was made of Indigenous Peoples’ Day or the historical complexities tied to the explorer’s legacy. The announcement also lacked details on whether this shift would involve new executive actions or simply a change in how the holiday is proclaimed.
Major news outlets reported the development swiftly, with coverage noting the timing: just months into Trump’s second term, the move signals a broader cultural agenda. Government records confirm the holiday remains officially listed as Columbus Day in federal statutes, unchanged since its inception. No new legislation or executive order has been filed as of April 28 to alter its legal status, suggesting Trump’s announcement may hinge on rhetorical weight rather than formal policy—at least for now.
The decision lands as the nation gears up for the 2025 holiday, set for October 13. Italian-American groups, long defenders of Columbus Day, are likely to cheer the move. Meanwhile, Indigenous advocates and their allies, who’ve fought for years to reframe the holiday, face a fresh setback in their push for recognition.
As of April 28, 2025, no further statements from the White House have clarified the announcement’s scope. The federal holiday’s name remains Columbus Day in all official government calendars.