Trump 'Resurrects' Columbus, Blasts Critics of Explorer's Legacy
President Trump held a ceremony honoring Christopher Columbus, vowing to defend the explorer's legacy against what he called 'radical left communists.'
President Donald Trump announced he has "resurrected" Christopher Columbus, defending the explorer's legacy against what he described as attempts by "radical left communists" to erase it. The remarks came during a White House ceremony where Trump unveiled a new statue of Columbus, intended for the Rose Garden.
"I resurrected Christopher Columbus," Trump told attendees, adding, "He's been rehabbed 100 percent, and he's been resurrected in the true sense. He's back to where he should be."
The president praised the Italian American community, warning against those who seek to "erase traditions" and the community itself. "Those who hate our country want to see the Italian American community erased," Trump stated. He also recalled instances where he claimed liberals opposed the use of Italian names, such as "Alphonse Capone," in films, deeming it discriminatory.
Trump paid tribute to several Italian Americans, including opera singer Christopher Macchio, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Macchio performed at the event.
Columbus's historical role in the European exploration of the Americas, beginning with his 1492 landfall in the Bahamas, has faced scrutiny due to the violence committed against Native Americans during the subsequent colonial era. President Joe Biden formally recognized Indigenous Peoples Day alongside Columbus Day in 2021.
Trump specifically criticized Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, alleging he sought to eliminate Columbus Day and, by extension, American history and heritage. "We have people — these lunatics that are running. They're all against Christopher Columbus," Trump said.
The White House already features a replica of a statue of Columbus that was toppled during 2020 protests; fragments of the original statue, which was submerged in Baltimore's harbor, were incorporated into the replica.
The newly unveiled statue, designed by the White House heliport designer, depicts Columbus surrounded by four allegorical female figures representing Europe, America, Asia, and Africa. This statue is slated for placement outside the Oval Office in the Rose Garden, joining existing statues of Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson.