President Donald Trump has promised to bring Columbus Day “back from the ashes.” In a loud post on his social media page, Truth Social, he attacked Democrats, blaming them for trying to erase Christopher Columbus from history. Trump said, “I’m bringing Columbus Day back from the ashes.” He added, “The Democrats did everything possible to destroy Christopher Columbus, his reputation, and all of the Italians that love him so much.”
Trump is making Columbus Day a big issue again. He said he would restore it “under the same rules, dates, and locations” as before. However, while Trump attempts to portray it as a simple celebration, there is much more to this story.
For many years, people have debated whether Columbus should be honored with a national holiday. In the past, Columbus was praised for “discovering” America. However, history shows that Native Americans were already living here long before Columbus arrived. Columbus’ trips led to the start of colonization, violence, and suffering for Native peoples.
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Many people now believe it is wrong to celebrate someone who helped start so much pain. That’s why some cities and states have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. This day honors the Native Americans who lived on the land long before Europeans came.
Trump disagrees with that. In his post, he said, “They tore down his Statues and put up nothing but ‘WOKE,’ or even worse, nothing at all!” He is using the word “woke” in a negative way, even though being “woke” simply means being aware of injustice.
The truth is history is not as simple as Trump says. Columbus did make necessary trips across the Atlantic Ocean. But he also forced Native people into slavery and took their land. Many historians agree on this. Even in Columbus’ own time, some leaders criticized his actions. For example, Bartolomé de las Casas, a Spanish priest who lived during Columbus’ time, wrote about how cruelly Native people were treated. He said, “Such inhumanities and barbarisms were committed in my sight as no age can parallel.” These are real words from a man who saw the suffering himself.
When people call for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, they are not trying to erase history. They are trying to tell the full story, not just the good parts. They want America to honor the truth and respect the people who were hurt.
Today, more and more Americans are learning the real history behind Columbus. Schools are teaching that Columbus did not “discover” an empty land. They are teaching that millions of people lived here already, with their own rich cultures, languages, and traditions.
Recent surveys indicate that more Americans now support the observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. According to a 2024 YouGov poll, 54% of Americans approve of celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day, while fewer people support the celebration of Columbus Day. This suggests that many people desire a more accurate and honest way of remembering the past.
The real question for America is not whether to celebrate Columbus or erase him. It is whether we can face the whole story — the good, the bad, and everything in between — and still move forward together.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
