President Donald Trump delivered a spirited Columbus Day message Sunday, celebrating Italian Americans while condemning left-wing activists who targeted statues of Christopher Columbus during nationwide protests.
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In a Truth Social post ahead of Monday’s federal holiday, Trump declared that efforts to tear down monuments honoring the Italian explorer were a thing of the past.
“HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY TO ALL, in particular our great Italian American Community which was forced to suffer as the Radical Left Dumocrats, Socialists, and Communists rampaged through our cities and towns ripping down almost all of the beautiful statutes of Christopher Columbus,” Trump wrote.
“Well, those days of plunder are over, and the statues are back, more magnificent than ever,” he added.
Trump emphasized the holiday’s cultural significance for Italian Americans, describing it as an important occasion for both the community and Italy.
“This is a big day for our great Italian American Community, and the Country of Italy itself, maybe the biggest,” Trump said.
The president’s remarks follow years of controversy surrounding Columbus monuments, many of which were vandalized, removed or toppled during protests over historical figures and their treatment of Indigenous peoples.
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Trump has consistently opposed efforts to remove historical monuments, framing the issue as a broader battle over preserving American history and national heritage.
During remarks Friday, Trump again criticized progressive activists seeking to eliminate Columbus Day.
“As you know, the radical left communists hate Columbus, and they want to abolish Columbus Day,” Trump said. “They’re still trying very hard.”
The president also singled out Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Michigan, accusing him of supporting efforts to abolish the holiday.
Trump’s comments underscore the continuing political divide over Columbus Day, which remains a federal holiday despite efforts in some jurisdictions to replace or supplement it with Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
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