Jesse Watters celebrates Columbus Day at NYC parade, mocks Mamdani absence
Source: Fox News · All Fox News reports
Unlock the full scoreboard
Letter grade, factuality, lean, and rationales — free with registration. No card required.
See grades free How grading works
Already have an account? Sign in. The full report below is free to read.
Embed this grade
Disagree with this grade or political lean?
Flagging is open to every reader with a free account. Sign in or create one to dispute this report.
Topics in this report
Summary
The 'Jesse Watters Primetime' segment aired on Fox News celebrated Columbus Day with on-the-street interviews at the New York City Columbus Day Parade. Participants, mostly Italian Americans, called Columbus a hero who discovered or founded America, rejected Indigenous Peoples' Day as a Democratic invention, and criticized Mayor Zohran Mamdani for skipping the parade and his past opposition to Columbus statues. The piece included humorous skits, jokes about Columbus being Republican, and praise for Trump restoring the holiday's prominence.
Editorial Assessment
The broadcast accurately captured parade sentiment and Mamdani's documented 2020 social media post giving the middle finger to a Columbus statue with the caption 'take it down,' along with his decision to issue an Italian Heritage Month video instead of attending. However, it presented a one-sided, celebratory view that erased key historical context: Columbus never reached the continental United States, enslaved Indigenous people, and his governorship led to brutality that prompted his 1500 arrest by Spanish authorities. Viewers miss the nuance that Columbus Day remains the federal holiday name while many states and Biden previously recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day to honor Native perspectives on colonization's harms. The heavy emphasis on 'cancel culture' and mockery of critics skews perception toward cultural grievance rather than balanced history. Patterns of selective street interviews and alignment with Republican framing on 'woke' issues are consistent with the show's style.
Key Moments
Columbus came to America, founded this country, and is a brave Italian explorer and hero
Columbus reached the Caribbean in 1492, not the U.S. mainland; he opened European colonization but Vikings preceded him and millions of Indigenous people already lived here. Historians note both achievements and his documented brutality toward Taino people.
Democrats are trying to cancel Columbus and replace the holiday with Indigenous Peoples' Day
Columbus Day is still the federal holiday name; 17 states plus D.C. recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day, some alongside it. Trump has issued proclamations strongly defending Columbus and declining to recognize the Indigenous observance.
Mayor Mamdani skipped the Columbus Day Parade, flipped the bird to a statue, and is the most divisive mayor
Mamdani did not attend the 2026 parade, released an Italian Heritage video instead, and posted a 2020 photo giving the middle finger to a Columbus statue captioned 'take it down.' Critics, including Italian-American groups, have called it disrespectful.
If Columbus were alive today he would be a Republican because they have common sense and aren't woke
Speculative opinion from parade-goers and skit; no historical basis. Segment used it for humor while tying into anti-Democrat framing.
Notable Concerns
- Omission of Columbus's role in Indigenous enslavement and population decline
- Portrayal of historical debate as mere Democratic 'cancel culture'
- Uncritical repetition of claim that Columbus 'founded this country'
Sources Consulted
- Christopher Columbus - Facts, Voyage & Discovery
- Indigenous Peoples' Day 2026: Map Shows Breakdown of States That Observe Holiday
- NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani skips Columbus Day Parade, offers Italian Heritage Month video instead
- Trump says he's 'bringing back Columbus Day from the ashes'
- Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day? It depends where you live
- Heritage groups accuse Zohran Mamdani of Italian-American 'hate' over Columbus stance
- Columbus Day, 2025 – The White House