White House Deploys All-Time ‘Sopranos’ Quote To Defend Christopher Columbus Statue

The White House used an iconic “Sopranos” line Wednesday to defend President Donald Trump’s plan to install a Christopher Columbus statue on White House grounds.

Trump reportedly plans to install a statue of Columbus on the south side of the White House, sources told The Washington Post on Wednesday. The White House leaned on an iconic “Sopranos” line to defend Columbus’ statue, with spokesman Davis Ingle saying the explorer remains a hero under Trump.

“In this White House, Christopher Columbus is a hero,” Ingle told the Post in a statement, although he declined to comment on the plans. “And he will continue to be honored as such by President Trump.”

Trump has supported Columbus, which includes restoring Columbus Day to honor Italian Americans and signing an October proclamation calling on the nation to commemorate the explorer’s life.

“This Columbus Day, more than 500 years since Columbus arrived in the New World, we follow his example, we echo his resolve, and we offer our gratitude for his life of valor and grit. Above all, we commit to restoring a Nation that once again dares to tame the unknown, honors our rich cultural inheritance, and offers rightful praise to our Creator above,” the proclamation said.

Trump’s stance runs headlong into left-wing activists‘ efforts to drop Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, despite historical accounts noting that Columbus adopted a Native American adolescent during his Bahamas voyage, later known as Diego Colon.