On October 12, 1492, three ships reached the outlying islands of what is now the Bahamas. Their commander was an Italian navigator in the service of Spain -- Christopher Columbus.
In his 2025 Columbus Day message, President Donald Trump called Columbus “the original American hero, a giant of Western civilization, and one of the most gallant and visionary men to ever walk the face of the earth.”
“Born in Genoa, Italy in 1451,” President Trump noted, “Columbus quickly emerged as a titan of the Age of Exploration.” On August 3, 1492, following years of intense study, preparation, and petitioning, Christopher Columbus secured funding from the Spanish Crown to set out on a daring expedition that most believed to be impossible. “Commissioned by Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain,” President Trump declared, “Columbus and his crew boarded three small ships — the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria — to set sail on a perilous voyage across the Atlantic. He was guided by a noble mission: to discover a new trade route to Asia, bring glory to Spain, and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to distant lands."
“Columbus’s journey, President Trump stated, “carried thousands of years of wisdom, philosophy, reason, and culture across the Atlantic into the Americas — paving the way for the ultimate triumph of Western civilization less than three centuries later on July 4, 1776.”
Freedom and the promise of a better life have drawn millions of immigrants to American shores in the five centuries since the daring voyage of Columbus. “As we celebrate his legacy,” the U.S. President noted, “we also acknowledge the contributions of the countless Italian-Americans who, like him, have endlessly contributed to our culture and our way of life. To this day, the United States and Italy share a special bond rooted in the timeless values of faith, family, and freedom.”
Columbus Day is a symbol of the diversity that makes the American people unique, and of the heritage they share. That heritage is perhaps best expressed by the Latin motto on the Great Seal of the United States – E Pluribus Unum – Out of Many, One.
“More than 500 years since Columbus arrived in the New World,” President Trump proclaimed, “we follow his example, we echo his resolve, and we offer our gratitude for his life of valor and grit. Above all, we commit to restoring a Nation that once again dares to tame the unknown, honors our rich cultural inheritance, and offers rightful praise to our Creator above."