Donald Trump hosts White House celebration for Columbus Day

President Donald Trump hosted a celebration at the White House for Columbus Day, welcoming hundreds of Italian American leaders to reaffirm the holiday's national significance. Among the guests was Basil Russo, national president of the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) and leader of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO).

During the event, Trump addressed the preservation of Christopher Columbus monuments. He noted that a 13-foot replica of a Columbus statue was installed near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in March 2026. Trump also expressed support for legal efforts to return a 22-foot statue to its original location outside City Hall in Columbus, Ohio, after it was removed in 2020.

In social media communications, Trump criticized political opponents for what he termed the “looting” of Columbus statues by the radical left. He emphasized that Columbus Day remains a significant occasion for the Italian American community and expressed opposition to efforts to abolish the holiday.