President Donald Trump made it clear that he would not follow his predecessor’s example of recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day alongside Columbus Day in October. Trump criticized Democrats for what he described as efforts to tarnish the legacy of Christopher Columbus, using the opportunity to advocate for the restoration of traditional American symbols.
In 2021, President Joe Biden became the first president to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples Day, issuing a proclamation that honored the “invaluable contributions and resilience of Indigenous peoples” and affirmed their “inherent sovereignty.”
Biden’s proclamation acknowledged that while the United States was founded on the ideals of equality and opportunity for all, these promises have not been fully realized, particularly regarding the rights and dignity of Indigenous peoples, who have lived on the land long before European colonization.
In response, Trump took to social media to declare, “I’m bringing Columbus Day back from the ashes.” On his Truth Social platform, he criticized Democrats for allegedly trying to destroy Columbus’s reputation and the legacy of Italians who revere him, stating that they had done everything possible to undermine the explorer’s legacy.
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