Senator Tom Cotton delivered a masterclass in American leadership this Columbus Day, firing back at progressive Democrats who spent the holiday trashing the explorer who opened the New World to Western civilization. When Squad members and their allies launched their predictable attacks on Christopher Columbus, the Arkansas Republican had a simple message: “Feel free to leave.”
Cotton’s response cuts to the heart of a fundamental question facing our republic: Will we celebrate the courage and vision that created the greatest nation in human history, or will we surrender to the guilt-driven revisionism that seeks to tear down everything that makes America exceptional?
The senator’s defense of Columbus as a “brave Italian explorer” stands in stark contrast to the progressive left’s systematic campaign to demonize the foundations of Western civilization. While Democrats like Ayanna Pressley and Pramila Jayapal weaponize historical grievances to advance their socialist agenda, Cotton refuses to apologize for the exploration, settlement, and constitutional principles that built the freest society the world has ever known.
This isn’t merely about defending a holiday—it’s about defending the idea of America itself. The same progressive forces attacking Columbus Day are the ones pushing critical race theory in our schools, tearing down monuments to our founders, and teaching our children to be ashamed of their heritage. They understand that a nation embarrassed by its past cannot confidently defend its future.
Cotton’s stance perfectly aligns with President Trump’s April proclamation restoring Columbus Day after years of Biden administration cultural Marxism. This unified conservative response demonstrates that constitutional patriots are done playing defense in the culture wars. Instead of apologizing for American greatness, leaders like Cotton are reclaiming the narrative from those who would rather see our nation weakened than strengthened.
The timing of Cotton’s intervention is particularly strategic. As chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, he understands how cultural demoralization directly undermines national security and America’s global leadership. When our own elected officials spend their time attacking the explorers and founders who made our constitutional republic possible, they signal weakness to adversaries like China and Russia who are eager to fill any leadership vacuum America creates.
The economic implications are equally significant. Nations that celebrate their achievements and honor their heritage attract investment, talent, and respect on the global stage. Countries that constantly apologize for their past—like much of Western Europe—find themselves increasingly irrelevant in shaping the future. Cotton’s confident defense of American exceptionalism sends exactly the right message to allies and competitors alike.
What makes Cotton’s approach so effective is its Reagan-era optimism. Rather than getting bogged down in defensive arguments about historical complexities, he simply celebrates American achievements while refusing to apologize for Western civilization’s superior contributions to human liberty. This positive patriotism resonates with voters who are tired of being lectured about their country’s supposed sins.
The senator’s “feel free to leave” response also exposes a fundamental weakness in the progressive position. If America is truly the oppressive, illegitimate nation they claim it is, why do millions of people around the world still risk everything to get here? Why do these same critics choose to remain in a country they apparently despise rather than relocating to the socialist paradises they claim to prefer?
Patriots should watch carefully how other Republican leaders respond to Cotton’s framework. This could become the template for confidently defending American heritage against progressive historical revisionism across multiple fronts—from education policy to monument preservation to immigration reform.
Cotton has provided a roadmap for the cultural restoration that must accompany America’s political revival. By celebrating the courage of explorers like Columbus, we honor the same spirit of discovery and determination that continues to make America the land of opportunity for people of all backgrounds who embrace our constitutional values.
The choice is clear: We can follow Cotton’s lead in confidently defending American greatness, or we can surrender to the forces that would rather see our republic diminished than strengthened. The senator has shown us the way forward—now it’s time for patriots everywhere to follow.
