Trump installs new Columbus statue at White House constructed from remains of statue destroyed by BLM

A statue of Christopher Columbus has been installed just steps from the White House, marking the latest addition to President Donald Trump’s expanding collection of historical monuments on federal grounds. The piece now stands outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where people walking along Pennsylvania Avenue can see it clearly.

The statue is a reconstruction of a monument first unveiled in Baltimore in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan, later torn down and thrown into the harbor during the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots. The damaged fragments were recovered and restored through a joint effort involving Italian American community leaders, local officials, and sculptors, with funding coming from charities and federal grants.

An inscription on the base reads: “Destroyed July 4, 2020,” followed by “Resurrected 2022.” Additional text notes the statue was presented to the White House last year and formally rededicated by Trump in October.

“In this White House, Christopher Columbus is a hero. And he will continue to be honored as such by President Trump,” said spokesman Davis Ingle.

The installation fits into a broader plan by the administration to expand the presence of historical figure monuments across Washington. Several statues of founding-era leaders have already been placed in the Rose Garden, and officials are moving forward with a proposed “Garden of Heroes” in West Potomac Park, expected to feature hundreds of notable Americans.

Another statue, depicting Declaration of Independence signer Caesar Rodney, is also slated for installation near Pennsylvania Avenue. That piece had previously been taken out of public view in Delaware.