Trump places statue of Christopher Columbus near the White House
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- A replica statue of Christopher Columbus has been installed on the grounds of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building near the White House, marking a new effort by the Trump administration to honor the explorer.
- The statue is a copy of one that was toppled and thrown into Baltimore’s Inner Harbor during 2020 protests against institutional racism following George Floyd’s death.
- The Trump administration promotes Columbus as a heroic figure linked to the 1492 mission that initiated European colonization and shaped the modern world order.
- The statue is owned by the Italian American Organizations United and was created by Maryland sculptor Will Hemsley; it was loaned to the federal government for public display.
- Columbus remains a controversial figure, with many recognizing him as a symbol of Native American genocide and exploitation, leading some to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day, which President Biden officially acknowledged in 2021.
