The U.S. government recognizes the second Monday of every October as Columbus Day, commemorating Christopher Columbus' arrival in the Americas in 1492. School lessons have traditionally lauded the Italian explorer as the "discoverer" of the Americas.
In recent years, many people have celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day on the same day considering the destructive impact of European conquests on Native Americans. In 2021, former President Joe Biden became the first president to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day on the same date as Columbus Day.
President Donald Trump reversed that proclamation in 2025, saying his administration would bring Columbus Day "back from the ashes."
Below is a collection of fact checks involving Columbus Day. We've fact-checked claims about with Columbus' role in selling slaves and whether he actually "discovered" North America, for examples.
