Today is the second Columbus/Indigenous People’s Day since Donald Trump took office, and for the second year in a row, Trump has issued an official presidential proclamation for the holiday that fails to even mention the existence of Native Americans.
This morning, Trump tweeted out a link to the proclamation along with the message, “Christopher Columbus’s spirit of determination & adventure has provided inspiration to generations of Americans. On #ColumbusDay, we honor his remarkable accomplishments as a navigator, & celebrate his voyage into the unknown expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.”
Christopher Columbus’s spirit of determination & adventure has provided inspiration to generations of Americans. On #ColumbusDay, we honor his remarkable accomplishments as a navigator, & celebrate his voyage into the unknown expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. https://t.co/Mg3dxRfPuN
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 8, 2018
This doesn’t have to be the slightest bit surprising (because it’s not) to be totally disappointing and infuriating.
Happy Genocidal Slaver–Shitty Geographer Day from the president* https://t.co/j4dY3KyltV
— Kevin Gannon (@TheTattooedProf) October 8, 2018
Christopher Columbus did not discover America. He never set foot in North America. He thought he’d landed in Asia, not the Americas (hence why America is named for Amerigo Vespucci). He was tyrannical and committed atrocities against indigenous populations and Spaniards. https://t.co/smOq9dpWW4
— John Haltiwanger (@jchaltiwanger) October 8, 2018
Christopher Columbus was a murder, rapist, & even committed genocide. He never stepped foot in North America, he was too busy pillaging the Caribbean which btw he thought was India the entire time. Also he didn’t even prove the earth was round, it was already known at the time. https://t.co/I8U0eMuRMK
— Sarah Chadwick (@Sarahchadwickk) October 8, 2018
Columbus Day is when ppl who think immigrants are thieves, rapists & murderers get to celebrate an immigrant who thieved, raped & murdered.
— John Fugelsang (@JohnFugelsang) October 8, 2018
When your POTUS is a white supremacist. https://t.co/ZE4OtlS4tz
— Da7e “Good Facial Hair For A Villain” Gonzales (@Da7e) October 8, 2018
By contrast, in his 2016 proclamation, President Obama made specific mention of the history of violence and tragedy that Trump ignored.
“As we mark this rich history, we must also acknowledge the pain and suffering reflected in the stories of Native Americans who had long resided on this land prior to the arrival of European newcomers,” he wrote. “The past we share is marked by too many broken promises, as well as violence, deprivation, and disease. It is a history that we must recognize as we seek to build a brighter future — side by side and with cooperation and mutual respect. We have made great progress together in recent years, and we will keep striving to maintain strong nation-to-nation relationships, strengthen tribal sovereignty, and help all our communities thrive.”
Oh, and Obama also acknowledged that Columbus’ “discovery” of the Bahamas was a mistake, something Trump would never do because his favorite defense is claiming “I meant to do that all along” and then blaming the media for blowing the thing out of proportion. Amazing how little has changed in 400 years.
Anyway, here’s Trump boarding Air Force One with toilet paper or something stuck to his shoe, which he definitely meant to do.
This video of President Trump with toilet paper on his shoe is 100% real. He was boarding Air Force One in Minneapolis earlier today. pic.twitter.com/wr0ZnXknCx
— Beatrice-Elizabeth Peterson (@MissBeaE) October 5, 2018
(image: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
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