Trump Defends Columbus Day Amid Holiday Name Change Debate
Despite recent attempts to change the name of Monday’s holiday to Indigenous Peoples’ Day, President Donald Trump issued a proclamation recognizing the achievements and Christian character of Christopher Columbus:
The President referred to Columbus as “the original American hero, a giant of Western civilization and one of the most gallant and visionary men to ever walk the face of the earth. This Columbus Day, we honor his life with reverence and gratitude, and we pledge to reclaim his extraordinary legacy of faith, courage, perseverance and virtue from the leftwing arsonists who have sought to destroy his name and dishonor his memory.
“Born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451, Columbus quickly emerged as a titan of the Age of Exploration. On Aug. 3, 1492, following years of intense study, preparation and petitioning, Christopher Columbus secured funding from the Spanish crown to set out on a daring expedition that most believed to be impossible. Commissioned by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, Columbus and his crew boarded three small ships — the Niña, Pinta and Santa Maria — to set sail on a perilous voyage across the Atlantic. He was guided by a noble mission — to discover a new trade route to Asia, bring glory to Spain and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to distant lands.
“Just over two months later, on Oct. 12, 1492, Columbus made landfall in the modern-day Bahamas. Upon his arrival, he planted a majestic cross in a mighty act of devotion, dedicating the land to God and setting in motion America’s proud birthright of faith. Though he initially believed he had arrived in Asia, his discovery opened the vast frontier and untold splendors of the New World to Europe. He later ventured onward to Cuba and other islands in the Caribbean, exploring their coasts and engaging with their people.
“Guided by steadfast prayer and unwavering fortitude and resolve, Columbus’s journey carried thousands of years of wisdom, philosophy, reason and culture across the Atlantic into the Americas, paving the way for the ultimate triumph of Western civilization less than three centuries later on July 4, 1776.
“As we celebrate his legacy, we also acknowledge the contributions of the countless Italian-Americans who, like him, have endlessly contributed to our culture and our way of life. To this day, the United States and Italy share a special bond rooted in the timeless values of faith, family and freedom. My administration looks forward to strengthening our long and storied friendship in the years to come.
“This Columbus Day, more than 500 years since Columbus arrived in the New World, we follow his example, we echo his resolve and we offer our gratitude for his life of valor and grit. Above all, we commit to restoring a nation that once again dares to tame the unknown, honors our rich cultural inheritance and offers rightful praise to our creator above.”
A growing movement continues to rename Columbus Day to honor indigenous people, but critics of that idea point out that across the Western hemisphere, millions of indigenous peoples were slaughtered by other indigenous civilizations.
Recent academic research has revealed that Columbus may not have been Christian, but in fact a Sephardic Jew who kept his identity secret because of regular attacks on the Jewish community at the time.
–Alan Goforth
