Trump designates Columbus Day, sidelining Indigenous Peoples Day

President Trump on Thursday signed a presidential proclamation declaring Oct. 13, 2025, as Columbus Day, saying at a White House cabinet meeting "We're back, Italians. We love the Italians," and directing Americans to observe the day with ceremonies and displays of the U.S. flag. The proclamation described Christopher Columbus as "a true American hero" and called on citizens to honor his legacy, reversing what the White House portrayed as a shift in recent years away from celebrating the explorer.

The action does not change the legal status of the holiday, which has been a federal observance since 1971, but it marks a clear policy choice by the administration not to follow the practice begun by President Joe Biden of issuing proclamations recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day alongside Columbus Day. In 2021, Biden issued the first presidential proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day and has marked the day since as a way to honor Native American history and the ongoing contributions of Tribal Nations.

Trump used the proclamation to criticize efforts by activists and some local governments to remove or rename monuments and observances tied to Columbus. He said his directive...