Trump Moves to Install Restored Columbus Statue Near the White House

President Donald Trump is arranging for a restored replica of a Christopher Columbus statue to be placed at or near the White House after an Italian American group agreed to loan the figure to the federal government. The statue is a reconstruction of a monument toppled and thrown into Baltimore's Inner Harbor on July 4, 2020, amid protests over racial injustice.

Loan Agreement and Timing

John Pica, a Maryland lobbyist and president of Italian American Organizations United, told reporters his group owns the statue and signed a loan agreement this week to lend it to the federal government for display close to the presidential residence. Pica said he was contacted about the statue around Columbus Day last year and that his organization voted unanimously to send the restored replica.

Pica described himself as "cautiously optimistic" about the installation and said the statue could be placed "possibly within two weeks," though he acknowledged the timing remained uncertain. Maryland state Delegate Nino Mangione, who helped arrange the statue's recovery and restoration, confirmed the plan.

In this photo provided by Nino Mangione, Maryland Del. Nino Mangione stands next to a statue of Christopher Columbus thatt was retrieved from Baltimore's Inner Harbor in Baltimore, July 6, 2020, after protesters had thrown the statue into the harbor. (Nino Mangione via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Restoration

Mangione said artist Will Hemsley used parts of the original monument—first unveiled during President Ronald Reagan's administration—to help craft and restore "a beautiful, brand new statue." The figure headed to Washington is therefore described as a replica incorporating elements of the toppled work.

White House Response and Political Context

The White House declined to comment directly to the Associated Press on installation plans but reiterated President Trump’s public support for Columbus. White House spokesman David Ingle said, "In this White House, Christopher Columbus is a hero. And he will continue to be honored as such by President Trump."

Supporters say the placement would honor an Italian historical figure valued by many Italian Americans and fit with the administration’s effort to shape national historical narratives as the country approaches its 250th anniversary. Critics note that Columbus’s legacy has been increasingly scrutinized by historians and activists for his role in initiating European colonization and the mistreatment, enslavement and deaths of Indigenous and African peoples in the Americas.

In this photo provided by Nino Mangione, a statue of Christopher Columbus is pulled out of the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, July 6, 2020, after protesters had thrown the statue into the harbor. (Nino Mangione via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Protests, Commemoration and Policy

The replica replaces a statue that was toppled and thrown into Baltimore’s Inner Harbor on July 4, 2020, amid unrest following the killing of George Floyd by police. The incident was one of several high-profile removals or attacks on statues tied to contested historical figures during that period.

In recent years many places have moved from observing Columbus Day toward recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day. President Joe Biden in 2021 became the first U.S. president to issue a formal proclamation honoring Indigenous Peoples Day. The Trump administration has taken opposing steps: issuing a Columbus Day proclamation last October and, in the spring, signing an executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," which directed reviews of museum exhibits and criticized what it described as efforts to portray the United States as "inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed." The administration has since pushed for a comprehensive review of exhibits across Smithsonian museums and urged federally funded institutions to reassess certain diversity initiatives.

Temporary Loan and Future Removal

Pica emphasized that the loan is conditional: his group retains ownership and said it would reclaim the statue if a future administration requested its removal. That provision underscores that the installation, even if it occurs, may not be permanent.

What Happens Next? Officials have not confirmed an exact installation date or the precise placement. Given the politically charged nature of Columbus’s legacy, the move is likely to prompt public reaction from both supporters and opponents.

Reporting contributions: Associated Press reporters and Darlene Superville. This article summarizes developments around the proposed placement and the broader cultural and political context shaping the debate over historical monuments.