Trump Declares ‘Days of Plunder’ of Columbus Statues ‘Are Over’ in Early Columbus Day Message

President Donald Trump marked Columbus Day a day early, using a Truth Social post on Sunday to declare that the era of statue removals targeting Christopher Columbus has ended. According to Breitbart News, Trump wrote that the “days of plunder” carried out by “Radical Left Dumocrats, Socialists, and Communists” are finished, and that the monuments are restored.

“HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY TO ALL, in particular our great Italian American Community which was forced to suffer as the Radical Left Dumocrats, Socialists, and Communists rampaged through our cities and towns ripping down almost all of the beautiful statutes of Christopher Columbus,” Trump said in the post, as reported by Breitbart. “Well, those days of plunder are over, and the statues are back, more magnificent than ever.”

Trump also framed the holiday as a significant moment for Italian Americans and for Italy itself, calling it “a big day for our great Italian American Community, and the Country of Italy itself, maybe the biggest,” according to the Breitbart report.

A Weekend of Statue Politics

The president’s message came after remarks on Friday in which he accused “radical left communists” of hating Columbus and wanting to abolish the holiday. Breitbart reported that Trump directed particular criticism at Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Michigan, claiming that El-Sayed wants to eliminate Columbus Day.

“As you know, the radical left communists hate Columbus, and they want to abolish Columbus Day,” Trump said Friday, per Breitbart. “They’re still trying very hard.”

Trump went on to mock El-Sayed’s name, saying, “You know this guy, I call him Mohammed Al Fayad. Some people call him Abdul. I call him Mohammed. Somebody said, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘I don’t know. I feel like it.’ But he wants to abolish Columbus Day… Can you believe it?”

The post and the Friday comments reflect a broader political fight over historical monuments that has intensified in recent years. Statues of Columbus have been removed or vandalized in cities across the country amid protests and debates over his legacy, particularly regarding the treatment of Indigenous peoples. Trump has consistently positioned himself against those efforts, presenting the defense of such statues as part of a larger cultural and political battle.

The Breitbart report did not specify which statues Trump was referring to as “back,” nor did it provide details on any restoration efforts. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment beyond the president’s public statements.

El-Sayed’s campaign has not publicly responded to Trump’s characterization. The candidate has previously expressed support for reevaluating Columbus Day, though the Breitbart report did not include any direct quotes from El-Sayed on the matter.

Trump’s decision to issue his Columbus Day message a day early is in keeping with his habit of using social media to set the tone for national debates, often before official observances begin. The post quickly drew reactions from supporters and critics alike, with some praising the president for defending Italian American heritage and others accusing him of stoking division.

As Columbus Day approaches, the disagreement over how to remember the explorer — and whether to continue honoring him with a federal holiday — remains unresolved. Trump’s message makes clear that he intends to keep the issue in the spotlight, framing it as a choice between preserving national heritage and succumbing to what he calls radical leftist iconoclasm.

Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/11/trump-says-days-of-plunder-of-columbus-statues-are-over/