WASHINGTON–President Donald Trump kicked off Thursday’s White House Cabinet Meeting, the eighth since he returned to office in January, by signing proclamations to observe Leif Erickson Day and Columbus Day.
The first proclamation declared Thursday, October 9, Leif Erikson Day in honor of Erikson, a Viking explorer who traversed the Atlantic Ocean about 1,000 years ago, discovering Newfoundland.
“This is a hugely important holiday, particularly to Scandinavian Americans who celebrate his legacy as a great explorer, as a devout Christian, and really just a fascinating individual in the history of our continent,” said White House staff secretary Will Scharf as Trump signed the order.
Leif Eriksson Statue in Reykjavik, Iceland (photo by Magic K via Pexels)
Trump emphasized that Leif Erikson Day “is very important for Scandinavians,” before Scharf presented him with the Columbus Day order, honoring Italian explorer Christopher Columbus, who embarked on a harrowing transatlantic journey in search of a route to India, ultimately landing in the Bahamas in 1492.
There was applause in the room for the Columbus Day order, and Trump noted that members of the press were clapping as well. He also declared, “We’re back, Italians!” as progressives have fought to tarnish Columbus’s achievement and legacy in reaching the New World.
Trump announced in April that he would restore Columbus Day to its glory.
Embarkation and Departure of Columbus from the Port of Palos, on his First Voyage of Discovery, 3 Aug 1492. Painting by Ricardo Balaca. (Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty)
“I’m bringing Columbus Day back from the ashes,” he wrote in a Truth Social post at the time. “The Democrats did everything possible to destroy Christopher Columbus, his reputation, and all of the Italians that love him so much.”
He underscored that Democrats “tore down his Statues, and put up nothing but ‘WOKE,’ or even worse, nothing at all!”
“Well, you’ll be happy to know, Christopher is going to make a major comeback,” Trump proclaimed. “I am hereby reinstating Columbus Day under the same rules, dates, and locations, as it has had for all of the many decades before!”
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