States Divide on Columbus Day as Trump Defends Holiday

Differences in state holiday policies will shape how Americans observe Columbus Day on Monday, October 12, 2026, as the Trump administration defends Christopher Columbus' historical legacy. According to Pew Research Center, 30 states recognize the holiday in some form, but only 20 provide paid leave for state government employees, while other jurisdictions honor Indigenous peoples or maintain regular working schedules.

The federal holiday's uneven recognition reflects longstanding disagreements over Columbus' legacy, including his historical significance to Italian American communities and criticism of European colonization by Native American advocates. President Donald Trump has pledged to protect Columbus' place in American history, reinforcing the administration's position ahead of this year's observance.

Trump hosted a Columbus Day celebration at the White House on Friday. The administration had also issued its 2026 holiday proclamation on October 7, urging Americans to recognize Columbus' historical contributions.

The proclamation called on Americans to "honor his life of valor, adventure, and ingenuity" and "pledge to safeguard his story."

The administration also declared that it would "never allow his legacy to be erased by radical extremists."

Earlier this year, a replica of a Columbus statue originally built by Ronald Reagan was installed on the White House grounds. The statue had stood in Baltimore since 1984 before being removed after "rioters tore it down and threw it into Baltimore Harbor on July 4, 2020."

In the 2026 proclamation, Trump described Columbus as a "legend" whose "vision, fortitude, and perseverance" helped set historical events in motion that eventually led to the creation of the United States.

Trump also addressed efforts to remove Columbus from public commemoration, stating, "We are forever indebted to his courageous voyage, and we will never allow his legacy to be erased by radical extremists."

The president's position continues his defense of Columbus during his first year back in office. In his 2025 proclamation, Trump accused "left-wing radicals" of toppling Columbus statues and vandalizing monuments in attempts to "erase our history."

He also characterized Columbus as a "true American hero."

In a Truth Social post, Trump wished Americans a "Happy Columbus Day," highlighting the Italian American community and criticizing the removal of Columbus statues.

He declared that the "days of plunder are over," adding that the statues were "back, more magnificent than ever."

Trump also wrote, "This is a big day for our great Italian American Community, and the Country of Italy itself, maybe the biggest," while emphasizing the holiday's importance to Italian Americans and Italy.

According to Pew Research Center, 13 states designate Columbus Day as a standalone paid state holiday: Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Alabama combines the holiday with American Indian Heritage Day and Fraternal Day, while Virginia observes Yorktown Victory Day. Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island recognize Columbus Day alongside Indigenous Peoples Day.

Another 10 states recognize Columbus Day without providing state employees with a paid day off: Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. Tennessee can shift its observance to the Friday after Thanksgiving, a practice the state routinely follows, according to Pew.

Several jurisdictions have replaced Columbus Day with alternative observances. Delaware eliminated the holiday in 2009 and introduced a floating holiday for state workers, while Maine, Vermont, New Mexico and the District of Columbia replaced their paid Columbus Day holidays with Indigenous Peoples Day in 2019.

California has also regularly issued proclamations recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day. Oklahoma observes the second Monday of October as Oklahoma Native American Day, an unpaid observance, while separately recognizing Indian Day and requiring the governor to proclaim a day honoring each tribe on a date selected by that tribe.

Columbus Day became a federal holiday in 1937 and moved from October 12 to the second Monday of October in 1971, according to Pew Research Center. The holiday has historically celebrated Italian American heritage, while Indigenous Peoples Day recognition reflects opposition to honoring Columbus because of his treatment of Indigenous people and the consequences of European colonization.