By: Laura Soukkavong –
President Donald Trump marked Columbus Day with an East Room ceremony Friday, praising Christopher Columbus and Italian American heritage. The White House pool described approximately 300 attendees and photographs of Columbus statues near the stage.
Trump discussed the restoration and placement of a Columbus statue near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. He presented preservation of the monuments as part of his administration’s approach to national heritage.
The speech also moved into political criticism, energy policy and law enforcement. Those passages reflected the president’s views and campaign-style rhetoric.
Christopher Macchio sang the national anthem before the remarks. Trump concluded by discussing prominent Italian Americans and inviting attendees to view the ballroom construction site.