A little known fact about Italian explorer Christopher Columbus is Covet: Island of Desirethat, in 1492, after he sailed the ocean blue, he lived another 300-ish years and founded the United States of America.

This, I am forced to assume, is the belief of New York City Republican Mayoral Candidate Nicole Malliotakis, who on Wednesday called Columbus "the founder of our nation."

(This must also be how pizza came to be the national food of America, and why it is widely available in NYC. No one ever talks about that. Columbus loved pizza. Sometimes he picked off the pepperonis though. Cheese guy.)

Malliotakis mentioned our oft-forgot founder as she responded to Mayor Bill de Blasio's comments that the city may remove statues and symbols that represent racism around the city, including the statue of Columbus in the middle of Manhattan.

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In addition to believing Columbus is "the founder of our nation," Malliotakis believes his statue should stay. It's unclear whether her belief that the statue should stay is predicated on her belief that he founded the country.

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Malliotakis saw the tweet from Wall Street Journalreporter Mara Gay, and the candidate was not terribly thrilled about it.

C'mon, Mara! I think everyone knows I misspoke...After all 1776 is my favorite musical! #FakeNews

— Nicole Malliotakis (@NMalliotakis) August 23, 2017

Unclear if she believes Columbus was a main character in said musical.

Yes? I retweeted what your said. That's not fake news.

— Mara Gay (@MaraGay) August 23, 2017

lol

Columbus Day will never be the same for me!

— Nicole Malliotakis (@NMalliotakis) August 23, 2017

True, I imagine learning that Columbus Day is not a celebration of our nation's single founder would alter one's celebratory habits a bit.