Trump hosts White House Columbus Day celebration ahead of holiday
In short
President Donald Trump hosted a Columbus Day celebration at the White House on Friday ahead of Monday's holiday. The event followed his installation of a 13-foot Christopher Columbus statue on White House grounds.
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President Donald Trump hosted a White House Columbus Day celebration ahead of Monday's holiday, NBC News reported. The Hill said the Friday event was scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. EDT in the East Room, renewing Trump's effort to honor the Italian explorer amid debate over his legacy. [ 2 , 3 ]
Months earlier, Trump installed a 13-foot Christopher Columbus statue on White House grounds, The Hill reported. It described the statue as a replica of a Baltimore monument that protesters toppled and threw into the harbor in 2020. The outlet said Trump has criticized efforts to replace or share Columbus Day observance with Indigenous Peoples Day, which recognizes Native Americans and the impact of European colonization. The Washington Post and The New York Times presented his promotion of Columbus as an appeal to Italian American voters. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The Hill reported that Trump has championed the federal holiday and criticized efforts to replace or share it with Indigenous Peoples Day. The Washington Post and The New York Times framed his promotion of Columbus as an appeal to Italian Americans.
Key facts
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The Hill reported the celebration's scheduled 11 a.m. EDT start on October 9. [ 2 ]