# Trump Vows to Protect Columbus Day as States Differ

> Trump pledges to safeguard Columbus Day despite state-level variations in observance.
- Title: Trump Vows to Protect Columbus Day as States Differ · Newsweek
- Summary: Trump pledges to safeguard Columbus Day despite state-level variations in observance. Trump promises federal protection for Columbus Day while states…
- Keywords: columbus day, indigenous peoples day, trump administration, state holidays, pew research center, federal holidays, united states, columbus legacy, Trump, Vows, Protect, Columbus
- Source: Newsweek — https://newsweek.com/map-shows-how-states-mark-columbus-day-as-trump-vows-to-protect-holiday-12552798
- Published: 2026-10-11T16:53:53+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: columbus day, indigenous peoples day, trump administration, state holidays, pew research center, federal holidays, united states, columbus legacy
## Columbus Day Observance Varies by State
Americans mark Columbus Day differently based on state laws, with some celebrating it as a paid holiday, others replacing it with Indigenous Peoples Day, and many observing it as a regular workday.
## Trump's Columbus Day Proclamation
Trump issued a 2026 proclamation calling Columbus a 'legend' and pledging to 'safeguard his story' and 'never allow his legacy to be erased by radical extremists'.

> We are forever indebted to his courageous voyage, and we will never allow his legacy to be erased by radical extremists.
## States with Paid Columbus Day
Seven states make Columbus Day a paid holiday for government employees: Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
## States with Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day
Five states share Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day: Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island.
## States Replacing Columbus Day
Delaware dropped Columbus Day entirely in 2009, while Maine, Vermont, New Mexico, and the District of Columbia replaced it with Indigenous Peoples Day in 2019.
## Tennessee's Unique Approach
Tennessee shifts Columbus Day to the Friday after Thanksgiving to create a four-day weekend for communities.
## Columbus Day History
Columbus Day was first a federal holiday in 1937 and moved from October 12 to the second Monday of October in 1971.
## Native American Perspectives
Native American advocates oppose Columbus Day due to his treatment of Indigenous people and European colonization consequences.
## Italian American Heritage
Italian American communities historically celebrated Columbus Day as a figure who 'brought together two worlds', with traditions varying by state.
## Trump's 2026 Proclamation
Trump called Columbus a 'legend' and said his 'vision, fortitude, and perseverance' helped set historical events in motion for the United States.
## What Happens Next
Columbus Day falls on Monday, October 12, 2026, with federal observance continuing nationwide but state governments marking the date in markedly different ways.
## Key takeaway

Trump promises federal protection for Columbus Day while states celebrate it differently, with some replacing it with Indigenous Peoples Day.