The Aporia
Touchberry, R. (2026, October 12). Thune panned for ‘Native Americans’ Day’ social media post. Washington Examiner. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/4763216/thune-panned-native-americans-day-social-media-post/
Touchberry, Ramsey. “Thune panned for ‘Native Americans’ Day’ social media post.” Washington Examiner, 12 Oct. 2026, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/4763216/thune-panned-native-americans-day-social-media-post/.
Touchberry, Ramsey. “Thune panned for ‘Native Americans’ Day’ social media post.” Washington Examiner, October 12, 2026. https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/senate/4763216/thune-panned-native-americans-day-social-media-post/.
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Sen. John Thune (R-SD) faced backlash on social media for his post celebrating Native Americans' Day in South Dakota, which replaced Columbus Day in 1990. The state has one of the highest percentages of Native American residents, with over 11% identifying as such according to the 2020 Census. Thune's acknowledgment of the holiday honoring the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota peoples drew thousands of critical comments from online conservatives who support Columbus Day. This controversy highlights the ongoing cultural debate between Republicans, who typically honor Christopher Columbus’s exploration, and Democrats, who recognize Indigenous Peoples’ contributions on this day.