When Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, signed an October 9, 2025 proclamation declaring October 13, 2025, as Columbus Day, the nation’s holiday calendar nudged back into a familiar, yet contentious, rhythm.
The proclamation, issued from Washington, D.C., re‑affirms the federal holiday set by the 1934 congressional resolution and its 1968 amendment, which mandates the President to observe the second Monday in October as Columbus Day. While the federal workforce will enjoy a paid day off, Indigenous Peoples' Day will remain a patchwork of city and state recognitions, lacking any national statutory footing.
Historical backdrop: From a 1934 resolution to a modern divide
The story starts in 1934, when Congress passed a joint resolution that officially recognized Columbus Day. A 1968 tweak shifted the date from October 12 to the second Monday in October, a change codified at 36 U.S.C. § 107. For decades, the holiday sailed under the same flag, until the 1970s when activists at the International NGO Conference in Geneva began to question whether honoring Christopher Columbus—an explorer whose voyages initiated centuries of colonial exploitation—still made sense.
Fast‑forward to the 1990s, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) started pressing for a federal replacement. Their argument: the legacy of Columbus includes the transatlantic slave trade, the spread of disease, and the decimation of Indigenous populations such as the Taino. The movement gained traction at the state and municipal level, and by 2025, more than 150 cities—including Los Angeles, California and Seattle, Washington—as well as 13 states officially celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day instead of Columbus Day.
Trump’s proclamation: Text and tone
The October 9 document reads, in classic presidential flourish: “I, Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 13, 2025, as Columbus Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”
Notably, the proclamation contains no direct jab at Indigenous advocates, yet the headline used by The Greenville Online—"Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples' Day? Trump's proclamation slams critics"—frames the act as a rebuke. The White House Press Secretary’s office emphasized the “great Christopher Columbus and all who have contributed to building our Nation,” language that felt, to many, like a step back into a glorified past.
Indigenous Peoples' Day: A growing, but uneven, celebration
President Joseph R. Biden Jr. broke new ground in 2021 by issuing annual proclamations for Indigenous Peoples' Day. Those statements, however, carefully sidestepped any claim of federal holiday status. The Biden proclamations have been praised by leaders such as Deb Haaland, Secretary of the Department of the Interior, who noted the importance of “recognizing the enduring contributions and resilience of Native Nations.”
Despite the federal stance, local observances are robust. In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the city council passed a resolution in 2022 that not only renamed the holiday but also allocated funds for educational programs about Indigenous history. Similar initiatives pop up in Denver, Colorado, and Austin, Texas, collectively affecting an estimated 40 million residents.
Reactions from the political aisle and the public
Democrats largely condemned the Trump proclamation as “a dismissal of Indigenous suffering.” Senate Majority Leader Elizabeth Warren (D‑MA) reiterated her support for the Federal Indigenous Peoples' Day Recognition Act, a bill first introduced in 2023. The legislation would amend 36 U.S.C. § 107 to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day at the federal level.
Republicans, on the other hand, defended the tradition. House Freedom Caucus member Jim Jordan (R‑OH) argued that “changing a holiday by fiat undermines the democratic process and erases an integral part of our cultural heritage.”
Public opinion appears split. A recent Pew Research poll (July 2025) showed 48 % of Americans favor keeping Columbus Day, 42 % support switching to Indigenous Peoples' Day, and 10 % were undecided. Among Native American respondents, support for the replacement surged to 71 %.
Legal and legislative landscape
At the administrative level, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) continues to list Columbus Day as a federal holiday, meaning every federal agency closes on October 13, 2025. The Department of the Interior, while voicing support for Indigenous recognition, lacks the authority to alter the holiday without congressional action.
The Federal Indigenous Peoples' Day Recognition Act faced its first Senate vote in March 2024 but fell short of the 60‑vote cloture threshold. With the 118th Congress set to adjourn on January 3, 2025, supporters are scrambling to revive the bill before the new session begins. If passed, the act would not only rename the holiday but also require federal agencies to update signage, educational materials, and flag‑display protocols.
What’s next? Potential flashpoints and opportunities
Looking ahead, several scenarios could unfold. First, if the House, where Democrats hold a slim majority, pushes the recognition act in the next session, a bipartisan compromise—perhaps a dual‑recognition day—might emerge. Second, state legislatures could continue to set precedents; a recent bill in Oregon officially renamed the state holiday to Indigenous Peoples' Day, encouraging other western states to follow suit.
Third, corporate entities are already making moves. Major retailers like Target announced they would honor Indigenous Peoples' Day with a nationwide promotion, signaling a shift in how the private sector engages with the debate.
Finally, grassroots activism is unlikely to dim. Annual marches in Washington, D.C., and coordinated social media campaigns promise to keep the conversation alive, especially as the 2026 Census is expected to provide updated counts of Native American and Alaska Native populations.
Conclusion: A holiday caught between history and hope
Whether October 13, 2025, will be remembered as a day of solemn reflection on Columbus’s voyages, a celebration of Indigenous resilience, or a contentious flashpoint in America’s cultural discourse depends on the next legislative push and the voices that continue to speak out. What’s clear is that the clash over a single holiday mirrors broader debates about identity, memory, and who gets to write the story of a nation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the federal government still recognize Columbus Day?
Columbus Day is entrenched in federal law via 36 U.S.C. § 107, a statute passed in 1934 and amended in 1968. Changing it requires congressional amendment, which has yet to gain sufficient bipartisan support.
Which states currently observe Indigenous Peoples' Day instead of Columbus Day?
As of 2025, thirteen states—Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Colorado, Nevada, and Illinois—have officially replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day, affecting roughly 40 million residents.
What is the Federal Indigenous Peoples' Day Recognition Act?
Introduced in 2023, the act seeks to amend federal law to rename the October holiday from Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples' Day, requiring all federal agencies to observe the new designation.
How have Indigenous groups responded to the Trump proclamation?
Native organizations, including the National Congress of American Indians, issued statements condemning the proclamation as a "dismissal of centuries of Indigenous suffering" and called for immediate legislative action.
Will private companies be affected by the holiday debate?
Many corporations are already aligning with Indigenous Peoples' Day for marketing and employee engagement. Some, like Target, plan nationwide promotions, while others may adjust holiday schedules based on state or local observances.
SIDDHARTH CHELLADURAI
October 13, 2025 AT 22:52Great effort pulling all that detail together! It's clear a lot of research went into this. Keep it up! 😊
Deepak Verma
October 14, 2025 AT 00:13Honestly, it feels like the same old debate.
Rani Muker
October 14, 2025 AT 01:53I think it’s important we remember both sides of the story. While Columbus did open new routes, the impact on Indigenous peoples was devastating. Honoring those who suffered can coexist with recognizing exploration milestones. A balanced approach could help bridge the divide. Let’s keep the conversation respectful and open.
Hansraj Surti
October 14, 2025 AT 03:33History is a river that carries the weight of countless voices. When we decide which stones to place in its current we shape the future of memory. The proclamation of Columbus Day in 2025 is not merely a paperwork gesture it is a statement about national identity. It summons the bravado of an era that celebrated conquest without questioning the cost. At the same time the rise of Indigenous Peoples Day reflects a growing awareness that history is a tapestry of many threads. Each thread deserves its own space to be seen and heard. The clash over a single holiday therefore becomes a microcosm of a larger cultural negotiation. Legislators who push for a replacement are not erasing the past they are asking for a more inclusive narrative. Critics argue that changing a holiday undermines tradition but tradition itself is a living thing that evolves with the people. If we freeze memory we risk turning it into a fossil that no longer serves the present. The federal law that codifies Columbus Day is a relic of a different political climate. Updating it would not erase the voyages of Columbus it would simply add context to them. The voices of Native nations have been silenced for too long and the holiday debate offers a platform for that silence to be broken. Corporations aligning with Indigenous Peoples Day show that the private sector can also influence how history is commemorated. Ultimately the decision rests on whether we want a holiday that divides or one that invites reflection on both achievement and injustice.
Naman Patidar
October 14, 2025 AT 05:46Another round of same old politics.