Trump Administration Reverses Indigenous Peoples Day Recognition
President Donald Trump has reignited the national debate over Christopher Columbus and the October holiday honoring him. In a proclamation signed on October 9, 2025, ahead of the October 13 holiday, Trump declared that the United States will officially celebrate Columbus Day rather than Indigenous Peoples Day, marking a sharp reversal of policies under the previous administration.
“Outrageously, in recent years, Christopher Columbus has been a prime target of a vicious and merciless campaign to erase our history,” Trump’s proclamation stated. “We’re calling it Columbus Day — we’re back, Italians. We love the Italians.”
The move underscores Trump’s broader push to “restore truth and sanity to American history,” part of a cultural shift within his administration that targets what he calls “woke” policies in government, education, and museums.
Columbus Day 2025: A Return to Tradition
Columbus Day 2025, which falls on October 13, will be celebrated as a federal holiday dedicated solely to the Italian explorer. The date, which has been a federal holiday since 1892, traditionally honors Columbus’s 1492 voyage that led to the European discovery of the Americas.
However, in recent decades, Columbus Day has become increasingly controversial. Many states and cities have either replaced it with Indigenous Peoples Day or recognized both holidays to acknowledge the suffering and exploitation of Native communities following European colonization.
Former President Joe Biden became the first U.S. president to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples Day in 2021, calling it a moment to reflect on “the painful history of wrongs and atrocities that many European explorers inflicted on Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities.”
Trump’s decision effectively ends that dual recognition at the federal level — for now.
Cultural and Political Backlash
The announcement has sparked both celebration and criticism. Italian-American organizations praised Trump’s decision, saying it restores long-standing cultural recognition for Italian heritage and immigrant contributions.
Meanwhile, Native American groups and progressive leaders condemned the proclamation, calling it “a step backward” in acknowledging historical injustices. Social media platforms quickly filled with debates over whether Columbus Day 2025 should be celebrated or reconsidered in light of modern values.
Historians, too, are divided. Some argue that the move politicizes history, while others see it as part of an ongoing national conversation about how the United States should remember its past.
Trump’s Broader “Anti-Woke” Campaign
The decision to emphasize Christopher Columbus fits within Trump’s broader cultural agenda. His administration has taken a strong stance against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, while also reviewing how history is presented in federally funded institutions such as the Smithsonian Museum.
In August 2025, the administration launched a formal review of the Smithsonian’s exhibits, with a stated goal to “remove divisive or partisan narratives” and focus instead on “celebrating American exceptionalism.”
An earlier executive order signed in March, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” further cemented this initiative, though critics say it risks sanitizing historical realities.
The Legacy of Christopher Columbus
For centuries, Christopher Columbus has been celebrated as the “original American hero,” a title now being reinstated by the Trump administration. Yet his legacy remains complicated — while credited with connecting Europe and the Americas, his voyages also ushered in centuries of colonization, slavery, and disease that devastated Indigenous populations.
Trump has repeatedly defended Columbus, arguing that his critics seek to “erase history” and “tear down our heroes.” During a recent speech, he said, “Democrats tore down his statues and put up nothing but woke — or even worse, nothing at all.”
Columbus Day vs. Indigenous Peoples Day: The Debate Continues
As Columbus Day 2025 approaches, the divide between those who celebrate the explorer and those who mourn the consequences of his actions remains as strong as ever. Some states, such as California and Maine, have reaffirmed their commitment to Indigenous Peoples Day, while others — particularly in the Midwest and South — continue to honor Columbus Day exclusively.
The question now is whether Trump’s federal recognition will prompt states to follow suit or deepen the cultural divide surrounding America’s historical narratives.
Final Thoughts
The renewed focus on Christopher Columbus and the reestablishment of Columbus Day 2025 highlight how deeply history and politics remain intertwined in modern America. For Trump, this move reinforces his appeal to traditionalist voters and ethnic heritage groups, while critics argue it undermines progress toward historical accountability.
As the October 13 holiday nears, Americans once again face the question: how should we honor our past while acknowledging the pain it caused?
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