President Trump signed a proclamation Thursday officially designating October 13 as Columbus Day, celebrating Italian-American heritage and reaffirming the holiday’s significance at a time when many states had moved toward Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Speaking at the White House during a Cabinet meeting, Trump described Italian explorer Christopher Columbus as a “true American hero” and said the move “reclaims our history from radical efforts to erase it.” After the paperwork was signed, the president briefly declared, “We’re back, Italians. We love the Italians,” as applause erupted in the room.
Although Columbus Day has historically been observed by the federal government since 1971, the administration portrayed this proclamation as a symbolic turnaround from years of debate over America’s founding narratives. Trump’s remarks emphasized the holiday as a reflection of national pride and what he described as the “engine of discovery and faith” that Columbus represented.