By now most of us are aware that unlike we were taught in elementary school, Christopher Columbus was not so much a plucky adventurer who sailed the ocean blue to discover America, but more so a terrible figure who tortured and committed mass genocide of indigenous peoples. For those reasons and many more, it’s largely unclear why we as a country even still acknowledge such a problematic holiday — with many cities in recent years instead choosing to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day.
On Monday morning, President Trump decided to make a big show of honoring Columbus Day, because if there’s a misinformed stance to take on an issue, he will almost certainly jump at the chance to support it.
“Christopher Columbus’s spirit of determination and adventure has provided inspiration to generations of Americans,” Trump tweeted. “On #ColumbusDay, we honor his remarkable accomplishments as a navigator, and celebrate his voyage into the unknown expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.”
Christopher Columbus’s spirit of determination & adventure has provided inspiration to generations of Americans. On #ColumbusDay, we honor his remarkable accomplishments as a navigator, & celebrate his voyage into the unknown expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. https://t.co/Mg3dxRfPuN
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2018
The tweet then links to a White House press release in which Trump has issued a presidential proclamation naming today as Columbus Day, just in case we all weren’t already painfully aware. At this point, we shouldn’t be even remotely surprised, but people still sounded off on Twitter to slam the president for his lack of sensitivity.
Dude committed genocide.
— John Iadarola (@johniadarola) October 8, 2018
Happy Genocidal Slaver–Shitty Geographer Day from the president* https://t.co/j4dY3KyltV
— Kevin Gannon (@TheTattooedProf) October 8, 2018
When your POTUS is a white supremacist. https://t.co/ZE4OtlS4tz
— Da7e Gonzales (@Da7e) October 8, 2018
Christopher Columbus was a murderer, rapist and slave driver. It's only typical that you would honor him.
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) October 8, 2018
And he made it thru this tweet without a single shot at the Fake Indigenous Person, Liz Warren. The man is maturing before our eyes https://t.co/8aYZKMxDCe
— Gerry Callahan (@GerryCallahan) October 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/jchaltiwanger/status/1049294944794550273
Happy Genocidal Slaver–Shitty Geographer Day from the president* https://t.co/j4dY3KyltV
— Kevin Gannon (@TheTattooedProf) October 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/djbrady96/status/1049303370819883008
https://twitter.com/goodoldcatchy/status/1049303306357506048
https://twitter.com/mrsgipson42/status/1049297406519595008
White male privilege is doing an amazing job and is being recognized more and more. https://t.co/cz4vjFrJix
— Vs. (@JFD8) October 8, 2018
Um, Christopher Columbus was a slave trader….. https://t.co/5YzlsS5qaj
— Island Girl – 100% Pro-Choice, Vote Blue (@bluepolitics_) October 8, 2018
Of course you'd honor him as the rest of America tries to distance themselves from the wrong he did. You're such an asshole https://t.co/E607yR3Wvt
— Fialks4 (@Fialks4) October 8, 2018
Columbus was no hero. Neither are you.
He was seeking fame and fortune. I suppose you can identify with that.
He was responsible for more human pain than we can imagine. I suppose you can identify with that too.
BTW he did not 'discover' N. America. The Vikings did.— Brenda M-P (@wrldgrlbmp) October 8, 2018
If nothing else, you have to admit it’s a bit eyebrow-raising that Trump seems to have selective outrage for immigrants crossing borders, illegally or otherwise.