Trump promises to protect Christopher Columbus' legacy, accuses Abdul El-Sayed of seeking to eliminate Columbus Day

President Donald Trump promised on Friday to protect the legacy of Christopher Columbus against what he described as attempts by the radical left to erase him from history. During a Columbus Day celebration at the White House, he accused Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Michigan, of wanting to abolish the holiday.

"As you know, the radical left communists hate Columbus, and they want to abolish Columbus Day. They’re still trying very hard," Trump said during the event held in the East Room of the White House.

The president referred to El-Sayed by a name other than his own and used sarcasm to question him about his stance on the holiday.

"You know this guy, I call him Mohammed Al Fayad. Some people call him Abdul. I call him Mohammed. Somebody said, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘I don’t know. I feel like it.’ But he wants to abolish Columbus Day… Can you believe it?" he said.

Trump assured that his administration will protect Columbus's legacy against those who, he said, seek to tear down historical symbols and erase part of America's heritage.

"But I’ll tell you what, we’re going to be here almost two and a half years… He’s going to be so protected, like nobody’s ever been protected before, because they want to tear down the history and heritage that makes us who we are," he said.