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President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation declaring Monday to be Columbus Day, in an effort to "reclaim" what he called the famed explorer's "extraordinary legacy of faith, courage, perseverance, and virtue." 

bring the holiday "back from the ashes," he would reinstate "Columbus Day under the same rules, dates, and locations, as it has had for all of the many decades before!" 

In recent years, many people have instead celebrated 

to recognize Native land and acknowledge the contributions Native Americans have made to the country. 

Critics and advocates like Kerri Malloy, a professor of Native American and Indigenous Studies at San José State University, have challenged Columbus Day and Columbus' legacy. He says Columbus

arrival to the Americas "triggered a mass genocide of Indigenous people throughout the Western hemisphere," which included deadly diseases being spread among them, their land being stolen and being forced into Christianity. 

 does not mention Indigenous Peoples Day, but it accuses "left-wing arsonists" of trying to "destroy [Columbus'] name and dishonor his memory." 

Columbus Day is one of 12 federally recognized holidays in 2025. According to the Pew Research Center, 

 recognize Columbus Day in some way, while 17 states and D.C. commemorate Indigenous people on that day. Included in those tallies are the several states that recognize both. In 2021, Joe Biden became the first president to 

Indigenous Peoples Day on the same date as Columbus Day.

Christopher Columbus was born in Italy in 1451 and sailed to what he thought would be Asia in 1492, with support from the Spanish monarchy. He instead arrived in what is now the Bahamas. He would make three more voyages to South America, Central America and the Caribbean before his death, but never made it to what is now the U.S., according to Britannica.

President Benjamin Harrison first commemorated Columbus Day in 1892, a year after anti-Italian rhetoric culminated in the murder of 11 Italian immigrants in New Orleans by a lynch mob. The attack put a strain on the relationship between Italy and the U.S., and the holiday was an olive branch. President Franklin Roosevelt 

, "We're back, Italians. We love the Italians."

Rep. Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican, lauded his proclamation, 

Rep. Mike Lawler, a New York Republican and Italian American, 

, "Viva Italia! As a proud Italian-American, I fully support protecting Columbus Day and celebrating the rich history and contributions of Italian-Americans."

"The proclamation reiterates the American fantasy of Columbus' voyage, as solely a story of discovery and exploration, versus what it really was about — commerce and the exploitation of resources," said Malloy, the San José State professor. "You can't tell a story without telling both sides of it."

Still, the president is encouraging Americans to celebrate Columbus in some way on the holiday, and display the U.S. flag on all public buildings.

"This is the president trolling people of color, underrepresented minorities that tend not to vote for his party or candidacy," said Matthew Fletcher, director of the Indigenous Law and Policy Center at Michigan State University. "My sense is there's not a massive groundswell in favor of Columbus Day anymore, except, possibly, the Italian Americans."

Fletcher said that regardless of what the day is called, Indigenous people will still celebrate and be celebrated.

"It's local, it's tribal, it's statewide in a lot of places, and it's still going to be a legitimate thing, and people take it seriously," he said.

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Ayana Archie

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President Donald Trump said “left-wing radicals” have tried to tarnish Columbus' legacy, and the proclamation is a way to preserve it. Some experts say it's a way to erase the heritage of Native Americans. 

Trump issues a Columbus Day proclamation to 'reclaim' the explorer's legacy

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