President Donald Trump observed Columbus Day on 12 October 2026 with remarks declaring "the days of plunder are over," framing the federal holiday as a cultural priority. He also called for the return of a Christopher Columbus statue to Columbus, Ohio.
Residents in Columbus gave divided responses to the demand. Some welcomed the push, while others were less enthusiastic. The remarks came as Indigenous Peoples Day observances ran alongside the federal holiday, a parallel that has drawn attention in recent years. That overlap has become a flashpoint in communities around the nation.
Trump's approach to the occasion as a matter of national identity signals that the debate over how Columbus Day is observed is far from settled.