Trump unveils bonkers holiday proclamations
President Donald Trump has used commemorations of Columbus Day and Leif Erikson Day to whitewash historical events, including nodding to a popular reference among white supremacists.
In his Christopher Columbus Day Proclamationreleased Thursday, Trump hailed Christopher Columbus as “one of the most courageous and visionary men who ever walked the face of the earth,” while complaining about “left-wing arsonists who sought to destroy his name and dishonor his memory.”
The proclamation also alleges that Columbus was “a prime target of a vicious and merciless campaign to erase our history, slander our heroes, and attack our heritage.”
In signing the proclamation during a televised Cabinet meeting, Trump said“We’re back, Italians! We love Italians!” Of course, Columbus Day never went away.
The proclamation ignores mass deaths and suffering which were key to Columbus’ mission on behalf of the imperial forces. Historical records show that as part of his exploration of the Americas, Columbus kidnapped and enslaved members of the Arawak tribe.
Writing about Spanish actions in the New World, priest Bartolomé de las Casas wrote: “Our work was to exasperate, ravage, kill, mutilate and destroy; so it’s no wonder they tried to kill one of us every now and then. He also said that the Spanish “did not think of stabbing the Indians by the dozen or twenty and cutting them into slices to test the sharpness of their blades.”
Conservatives have long sought to downplay the gravity of Columbus’ historic actions, preferring instead the childish fairy tales of explorers.
In the same way, in his proclamation of Leif Erikson Day, also released Thursday, Trump hails Erikson as “guided by his deep Christian faith” and as a person who has spread “exciting news to uncivilized lands.” The proclamation also takes note of “Vinland,” the region of North America settled by the Norse people.
Invocation of Viking heritage and references to Vinland was a touchstone of the white supremacist movement. In 2017, a white supremacist who stabbed and killed two people in Oregon had recently posted on Facebook: “Hail Vinland!!! Hail Victory!!!”
Vinland was invoked as a supposed white outpost in early America, ignoring the thriving Native American communities that had long settled in the area. Bringing out Vinland is a path toward rewriting history, erasing the cultural heritage of non-white residents.
The proclamations are not written in Trump’s usual language and more closely resemble the work of White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller. Miller spent years defending the causes and rhetoric of white supremacy, culminating in its current role overseeing mass expulsions of migrants, with a focus on Latino communities.
Unlike Trump, former President Biden used its 2024 declaration for Columbus Day, not to eulogize Columbus, but rather to celebrate the contributions of Italian Americans throughout the country’s history.
Biden also did not include white supremacist dog whistles in his proclamation for Leif Erickson Day. Instead, Biden greeted “the history and heritage of Northern communities in the United States, whose contributions and cultures have helped shape our nation. »
Additionally, Biden issued a proclamation for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, an alternative celebration held on the same day as Columbus Day. Biden explained: “The history of America’s indigenous peoples is one of perseverance, survival, and a deep commitment to and pride in their heritage, their right to self-governance, and their ways of life. »
As of this writing, Trump has not recognized Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
