Susanna Riva During the Columbus Day celebrations at the White House, President Donald Trump took the opportunity to launch a two-pronged attack: on the one hand, he defended the figure of the Genoese explorer, on the other, he denounced the decision of local New York authorities to omit Little Italy from official maps of the city.
The hostility was expressed in harsh terms, calling the cancellation "a disgrace" and warning of possible withdrawals of funds if the situation did not change.
Washington Ceremony: A 4-Foot Statue of Columbus
The day before Columbus Day , scheduled for October 12, Trump hosted a ceremony in front of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, part of the White House complex.
The event featured the unveiling of a four-foot-tall statue, symbolizing the desire to bring the explorer back to the center of national discourse. A White House spokesperson described the statue as "the most anticipated event in the city," while White House spokesman Davis Ingle quipped, ironically, to Tony Soprano's famous line: "In this house, Christopher Columbus is a hero! End of story!"
The recovery of the Baltimore fragment
A related incident has put the spotlight on the Columbus monument issue. After a statue was thrown into Baltimore Harbor , a group of local businesspeople, a Cleveland politician, and Trump aides collaborated to return the fragments to the capital. Democratic Senator John A. Pica Jr., a former Maryland representative, said that Italian-Americans were "offended" by the incident and that the recovery demonstrates "appreciation for our cultural heritage."
Election Strategy: The Italian-American Vote in the November Elections
The political calendar includes midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3, with the renewal of all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 senators . Trump emphasized that the reinstatement of Columbus Day was designed to mobilize the Italian-American electorate, declaring: "Italians are very happy about this. Remember this when you go to the polls: I brought back Columbus Day." The goal is to consolidate a group of voters who, according to estimates, could prove decisive in key states.
International reconnections
The president also mentioned Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, claiming he has always had an "excellent relationship" with her. This statement, released a week earlier, appears intended to strengthen ties with Italy and underscore the importance of the Italian diaspora in the United States. The emphasis on these issues is intended to counter the recent trend, under the Biden administration, of celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day instead of the traditional Columbus Day.
Consequences for the Little Italy community
The decision to remove Little Italy from the map has sparked a heated response from residents and cultural associations. Trump warned that the deletion could result in "financial penalties" for New York City, arguing that those who "hate our country" want to erase Italian-American heritage. The controversy has already sparked debates about how local governments manage historical identities, while authorities have yet to issue an official response.