Trump defends Christopher Columbus statues to Heritage Foundation

First President Trump hailed the carved symbols of Confederate racism as “beautiful,” and now he’s defending statues dedicated to Christopher Columbus — the man responsible for genocide of North America’s indigenous people.

“What’s next,” asked President Trump, speaking Tuesday night at the annual meeting for the Heritage Foundation in Washington D.C.

“Now they’re even trying to destroy statues of Christopher Columbus,” he told members of the right-wing think tank, apparently referring to a string of vandalisms targeting the Italian explorer.

He called for the preservation of history — rather than its destruction.

“It has to be stopped,” Trump said. “You understand that our glorious heritage is the foundation of everything we hope to achieve.”

Vandals defaced a Columbus statue with a spraypaint tag calling for the removal of one bust in Queens, days after a similar tribute was knocked off its pedestal in Yonkers in August.

"Don't honor genocide. Take it down," the message demanded.

Protesters surrounded a 115-year-old statue of Columbus and called for its removal in Manhattan last week as the parade dedicated to him took place along Fifth Ave.

Trump’s remarks on Tuesday night follow a years-long campaign to nix the federal holiday dedicated to Columbus for its disrespect to Native Americans.

The President omitted mentions of Native American history in his Columbus Day proclamation.

Trump also repeated his call for “reverence and respect” for the American flag after spending weeks slamming athletes for bending the knee during “The Star Spangled Banner” for protesting racial injustices and police brutality.

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