Summary
Senate Majority Leader John Thune from South Dakota posted about Native American Day instead of Columbus Day, which sparked criticism from some conservatives. South Dakota was the first state to replace Columbus Day with Native American Day in 1990.
Key Facts
- John Thune is the Senate Majority Leader and a Republican from South Dakota.
- Thune's social media post celebrated Native American Day and not Columbus Day.
- South Dakota stopped recognizing Columbus Day in 1990, replacing it with Native American Day.
- Thune's post received over 2 million views and 7,000 comments.
- Some conservatives criticized Thune for his post, arguing it disregarded American history.
- South Dakota has a significant Native American population, over 11% according to the 2020 U.S. Census.
- Other South Dakota leaders, like Governor Larry Rhoden, also acknowledged Native American Day.
- The debate over Columbus Day versus Native American Day reflects a broader cultural conflict in the U.S.
