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White House Columbus Day celebration

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2026-10-12 06:40 UTC → 2026-10-12 21:25 UTC · added ~~removed~~

President Donald Trump hosted a Columbus Day celebration at the White House to honor Christopher Columbus and Italian American heritage. During the event, Trump described Columbus as an “original American hero” and stated he had “resurrected” the explorer’s legacy following previous administrative shifts toward celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day. The ceremony, held in the East Room, included diplomats from Italy and Spain and featured a performance by tenor Christopher Macchio. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito was also in attendance. In a move aimed at the Italian American electorate ahead of elections, Trump framed the event as a defense of historical monuments and traditions against what he termed “radical left communists.” Trump announced plans to install a new Columbus statue in the White House Rose Garden, joining existing monuments to Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. This follows the installation of a replica statue near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building that was recovered after being destroyed during 2020 unrest. The administration has also worked to restore the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain at Washington’s Union Station. Trump reaffirmed his support for these efforts, stating that the “days of plunder”—referring to the 2020 destruction of monuments—are over and claiming statues are being restored “more magnificent than ever.” Expanding on these efforts, the President issued a proclamation to safeguard the legacy of Christopher Columbus and reaffirmed the national significance of the holiday. He specifically called for the immediate return of a controversial Columbus statue to Columbus, Ohio, which was removed by city officials in 2020, following legal challenges from Italian-American organizations. Attendees included Italian-American figures such as Teresa Giudice. Following the event, Kamel Ghribi, Chairman of Gksd and Vice President of Gruppo San Donato, highlighted the importance of the Italy-US relationship. ~~Ghribi characterized the bond between the two nations as an “extraordinary heritage” and noted potential for cooperation in healthcare, innovation, infrastructure, and investment.~~

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