Trump "unilaterally announces" to restore Columbus Day as a federal holiday

Trump said Sunday that he plans to restore Columbus Day (the second Monday in October) as a federal holiday in the United States. The president of the United States cannot unilaterally cancel or declare a federal holiday, but must be approved by Congress. And Columbus Day is still a federal holiday, but as of last year, Indigenous Peoples Day has replaced Columbus Day in more than 200 cities and multiple states. "I'm going to bring Columbus Day back to life," Trump said on social media. "Democrats will do everything possible to destroy Christopher Columbus, his reputation, and all the Italians who loved him deeply." Christopher Columbus was a famous European navigator, explorer and colonizer from the Middle Ages to modern times. Foreign media said that many people oppose celebrating Columbus Day given his colonial history, as well as the torture and genocide of indigenous people. Indigenous Peoples Day began in the 1990s and has gained momentum since then, including in 2021, when Biden became the first president to officially recognize the holiday by proclamation.