Trump Installs Christopher Columbus Statue at White House
On Sunday, President Donald Trump placed a statue of Christopher Columbus outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
This statue, originally located in Baltimore, was thrown into the harbor by a group protesting on July 4, 2020. The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO) has since created a replica of the one that was destroyed.
Standing at 13 feet tall, the statue bears the inscription, “Discoverer of America: October 12, 1492.” The Coalition of Italian American Organizations collaborated with COPOMIAO’s President, Basil Russo, to arrange its installation on the White House grounds, planned for October 2025. The original statue was dedicated in Baltimore on October 8, 1984, by former President Ronald Reagan.
In a letter to Trump, Russo expressed that the Columbus statue represents “pride and cultural identity” for Italian Americans. He highlighted how Columbus’ legacy has been a source of unity, especially following the lynching of 11 Italian immigrants in New Orleans in 1891.
“Columbus statues have long stood as symbols of pride and cultural identity for the more than 18 million Italian Americans,” Russo noted. “For more than a century, Columbus’s story has helped Italian immigrants overcome bias and has been a source of belonging while they built new lives in this country. Columbus Day itself emerged after the tragic events in 1891, which sparked efforts to promote Italian American acceptance.”
Trump responded to Russo, saying he was “honored” to have the statue on the White House grounds. He described Columbus as an “original American hero,” praising his voyage in 1492 for its significance in laying the groundwork for Western civilization.
The White House expressed pride in honoring Columbus’s “legendary life and legacy,” referring to him as a “giant of Western civilization.”
While some activists and scholars seek to diminish Columbus Day, portraying him in a negative light, discussions around his actions also include the complex interactions between Columbus and Native Americans.
Columbus Day was initially established on October 21, 1892, during President Benjamin Harrison’s administration, as a way to support Italian Americans following the largest mass lynching in U.S. history.
