States split on Columbus Day as Trump vows to protect holiday and statues
Ahead of the federal Columbus Day holiday on Monday 12 October 2026, Trump pledged to protect Columbus's legacy, while state observance ranges from paid holidays to Indigenous Peoples Day or an ordinary workday.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2President Donald Trump posted a Columbus Day message on Truth Social on Sunday 11 October 2026, a day before the holiday, saying the "days of plunder" of Christopher Columbus statues "are over, and the statues are back, more magnificent than ever." BreitbartR “Well, those days of plunder are over, and the statues are back, more magnificent than ever.” Read at Breitbart ↗ NewsweekN “He said the "days of plunder are over," adding that the statues were "back, more magnificent than ever."” Read at Newsweek ↗ Mixed · 2In the post Trump singled out Italian Americans, calling the day "a big day for our great Italian American Community, and the Country of Italy itself, maybe the biggest." BreitbartR “This is a big day for our great Italian American Community, and the Country of Italy itself, maybe the biggest,” Read at Breitbart ↗ NewsweekN “singling out the Italian American community and again criticizing the removal of statues of Columbus” Read at Newsweek ↗ Mixed · 2Trump blamed the Democrats, socialists and communists he called the "Radical Left" for ripping down Columbus statues. Newsweek reported that a replica of a Columbus statue that stood in Baltimore from 1984 was installed on the White House grounds earlier this year after the original was torn down and thrown into Baltimore Harbor on 4 July 2020. BreitbartR “the Radical Left Dumocrats, Socialists, and Communists rampaged through our cities and towns ripping down almost all of the beautiful statutes of Christopher Columbus” Read at Breitbart ↗ NewsweekN “rioters tore it down and threw it into Baltimore Harbor on July 4, 2020.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1The administration issued its 2026 Columbus Day proclamation on 7 October, calling Columbus a "legend" and saying it would "never allow his legacy to be erased by radical extremists." Trump also hosted a Columbus Day celebration at the White House on Friday. NewsweekN “The administration had already issued its 2026 Columbus Day proclamation on October 7”“On Friday, Trump hosted a Columbus Day Celebration at the White House, ahead of the federal holiday.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Right · 1Also on Friday, Trump said "the radical left communists hate Columbus, and they want to abolish Columbus Day," and accused Democratic Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdulrahman El-Sayed of wanting to abolish it. Breitbart reported the remarks and did not include a response from El-Sayed. BreitbartR “As you know, the radical left communists hate Columbus, and they want to abolish Columbus Day,”“also accused Democrat Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed of wanting "to abolish Columbus Day."” Read at Breitbart ↗ Centre · 1Columbus Day is a federal holiday, but state observance varies. Newsweek, citing a Pew Research Center analysis, said 30 states recognise Columbus Day in some form and only 20 make it a paid holiday for state employees. NewsweekN “found that 30 states recognize Columbus Day in some form, while only 20 make it a paid holiday for state government employees.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1Other states have replaced it with Indigenous Peoples Day, recognise both, or treat the day as normal. In 2019 Maine, Vermont and New Mexico and the District of Columbia replaced their paid Columbus Day holidays with Indigenous Peoples Day, and Delaware dropped the holiday in 2009 for a floating day off. Oklahoma marks Oklahoma Native American Day on the second Monday of October, and Tennessee's governor routinely moves the observance to the Friday after Thanksgiving. NewsweekN “Delaware dropped Columbus Day entirely in 2009, replacing it with a floating holiday that state workers can take on a day of their choosing.”“In 2019, Maine, Vermont and New Mexico, along with the District of Columbia, replaced their paid Columbus Day holidays with Indigenous Peoples Day.”“Tennessee takes an unusual approach.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1The dispute has a long history. Columbus Day was first observed as a federal holiday in 1937, tied to Italian American heritage, and moved to the second Monday of October in 1971. Native American advocates and other critics oppose celebrating Columbus because of his treatment of Indigenous people and the consequences of European colonisation. NewsweekN “Columbus Day was first observed as a federal holiday in 1937 and was originally associated strongly with Italian American heritage, according to Pew.”“Native American advocates and other critics have opposed celebrating him because of his treatment of Indigenous people and the consequences of European colonization” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Experts quoted by Newsweek stressed different points. Anthony Tamburri of CUNY's Calandra Italian American Institute linked local choices partly to the size of Italian American populations. Harvard historian Philip Deloria said the holiday's rise was tied to efforts to counter anti-Italian prejudice, and that Columbus's own writings showed plans to enslave Indigenous people. NewsweekN “the differences between states and cities are partly connected to their Italian American populations.”“Columbus' own writings and accounts of his voyages showed his plans for Indigenous populations included enslavement” Read at Newsweek ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Explainer on how states differ in marking Columbus Day, set against Trump's defence of Columbus and the holiday.
- Emphasis
- Pew data on state observance, the history of the holiday, the Indigenous Peoples Day alternative and expert comment.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Trump's Friday remarks about El-Sayed.
- Charged language
- “radical extremists”
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Short report relaying Trump's message as a rebuke of the 'radical left' over Columbus statues, and his attack on a Democratic Senate candidate.
- Emphasis
- Trump's quotes on statues, Italian Americans and El-Sayed's alleged wish to abolish the holiday.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives no state-by-state context, no Indigenous Peoples Day perspective, and no response from El-Sayed.
- Charged language
- “days of plunder”“radical left communists”“Radical Left Dumocrats”
- For example
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“President Donald Trump issued a Columbus Day message, stating that the “days of plunder” of radical left Democrats, socialists, and communists ripping down statues of Christopher Columbus “are over.”” — Breitbart
What every side reports
- Trump posted a Truth Social Columbus Day message on 11 October 2026 saying the days of plunder of Columbus statues are over and the statues are back.
- He singled out the Italian American community in the post.
- The federal holiday falls on Monday 12 October 2026.
Where accounts differ
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Whether Columbus statues were torn down by 'radical left' groups and are now restored
- Left
- No left-leaning outlet covered the story.
- Centre
- Newsweek attributes the account to Trump and his proclamation, and adds that a Baltimore replica was installed at the White House after the original was thrown into the harbor in 2020.
- Right
- Breitbart reports Trump's account as stated: the 'Radical Left Dumocrats, Socialists, and Communists' tore down statues and they are now back, more magnificent than ever.
Donald Trump person
Presents himself as defender of Columbus and the holiday, saying statues are restored, praising Italian Americans, and saying the radical left wants to abolish Columbus Day.
“the radical left communists hate Columbus, and they want to abolish Columbus Day,” — Breitbart
“we will never allow his legacy to be erased by radical extremists.” — Newsweek
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Map Shows How States Mark Columbus Day As Trump Vows To Protect Holiday
Neutral Data-led explainer contrasting varied state practice and the history of the debate with Trump's stance.
Right1 article
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Trump Says 'Days of Plunder' of Columbus Statues 'Are Over'
Mixed Relays Trump's combative message and attack on a Democratic candidate largely in his own terms, without outside comment.
- 11 Oct 17:28 First BreitbartR Trump Says 'Days of Plunder' of Columbus Statues 'Are Over'
- 11 Oct 17:53 +25m NewsweekN Map Shows How States Mark Columbus Day As Trump Vows To Protect Holiday
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.