President Trump Proclaims Columbus Day

President Trump proclaimed Oct. 12, 2026, as Columbus Day and ordered U.S. flags displayed on public buildings, reaffirming federal recognition of the holiday. The move came as Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day were both observed, reflecting the growing split between jurisdictions that honor Christopher Columbus and those that mark Indigenous history instead. Around the country, ceremonies, speeches and protests highlighted Native American calls to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day and to acknowledge the effects of European colonization. Supporters of Columbus Day said the holiday should remain a national observance tied to Italian-American heritage and Columbus’s place in U.S. history.