Top GOP Senator Mocked After Refusing To Celebrate Columbus Day, Recognizes Native Americans Instead

Being an intern taking calls in this Republican Senator’s Office won’t be too fun today.

Senate Majority John Thune received backlash on X after refusing to honor Columbus Day but instead acknowledging Native American tribes.

The move by Thune comes after President Trump reestablished Columbus Day as a Federal holiday replacing a Biden order that declared it Indigenous People’s Day.

The Daily Caller reported more details on the backlash against Sen. Thune’s post:

Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota was mocked Monday by X users for not celebrating Columbus Day.

Thune posted a tribute to “Native American Day” on X in an attempt to acknowledge their contributions to the United States.

Today we celebrate Native American Day. I’m proud to join South Dakotans in honoring the heritage and contributions of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people,” he said in his post.

This led to a flurry of comments attacking Thune for posting a tribute to Native American tribes instead of the Genoese-born Christopher Columbus.

“ITS COLUMBUS DAY AND JOHNTHUNE IS A BITCH,” Raheem Kassam, a prominent political figure, said in response in a post to X.

“You don’t deserve to govern here. It’s Columbus Day retard. If you don’t even know our holidays you don’t belong in office,” another user said.

Here’s the post:

Today we celebrate Native American Day. I’m proud to join South Dakotans in honoring the heritage and contributions of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people. pic.twitter.com/YIVb51L53C

— Leader John Thune (@LeaderJohnThune) October 13, 2025

The backlash:

You are a scumbag

— Anthony Sabatini (@AnthonySabatini) October 13, 2025

Reminder: John Thune called on President Trump to drop out of the race in 2016. pic.twitter.com/V2kVd5rtw4

— DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) October 13, 2025

It's Columbus Day, fool.

— MadGeometer (@MadGeometer) October 14, 2025

There’s more:

It's called "Columbus Day" pic.twitter.com/ZKATd0QXWJ

— Angela (@angelamagee21) October 13, 2025

Happy Columbus Day Johnpic.twitter.com/0Fa3gkDyiK

— Shawn Farash (@Shawn_Farash) October 13, 2025

Fox News reported some GOP lawmakers have come together to introduce a proposal that would deny funding to cities recognizing Indigenous People’s Day instead of Columbus Day:

A new House GOP proposal would withhold funding from U.S. jurisdictions that celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day.

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It comes after President Donald Trump signed a proclamation last week declaring Oct. 13 Columbus Day in honor of the famed explorer as well as the heritage of Italian Americans across the U.S.

“This is about every son and daughter of Italy, every Knights of Columbus, every pasta dinner on Sunday, and every communion — everything that makes our culture who we are, from Philadelphia to San Francisco,” Rep. Michael Rulli, R-Ohio, told Fox News Digital in an interview.

“Every Little Italy neighborhood of this country celebrates Christopher Columbus. It’s so much more than the man. It’s the people.”