The White House shared a shortened video that highlights praise for the $5.1 million gilding of the Arts of War and Arts of Peace statues near the Lincoln Memorial, while omitting several critical remarks captured by WTOP. Federal records cited by NOTUS show nearly 24-karat gold leaf was used for the restoration. Reactions ranged from admiration to calls that the finish is "gaudy" or "tacky." The gilded statues are part of a wider, controversial $1.2 billion beautification push in Washington, D.C.
White House Posts Edited Clip Praising $5.1M Gilded Statues, Omits Critical Reactions
The Trump administration has deceptively edited the reaction to his $5 million gilded statues in Washington, D.C. (Donald Trump via Truth Social)
The White House posted a shortened social media clip highlighting positive reactions to the recent gilding of the Arts of War and Arts of Peace statues behind the Lincoln Memorial while omitting several critical on-camera comments recorded by local outlet WTOP.
The restoration covered the two bronze sculptures with nearly 24-karat gold leaf and — according to federal spending records cited by NOTUS — cost about $5.1 million. The Daily Beast first reported that the administration edited the footage to foreground praise from two visitors while excluding other interviewees who described the makeover as "gaudy" or "tacky."
The White House shared a clip of a traveler calling the renovated Arts of War and Arts of Peace statues 'beautiful,' while leaving out other reviews calling it 'gaudy'and 'tacky' (Donald Trump via Truth Social)
What People Said
In the clip shared by the White House, a visitor identified as Amy from Topeka, Kansas, says she was surprised by the statues' brightness:
"I was walking on the back side of the memorial, and I was just like, woah, what is that?... I didn't see them before, but they look very bright."Amy's daughter, Gio, is shown calling the sculptures "really nice," "super shiny" and "beautiful."
WTOP's full interviews include more mixed reactions. Francis of Fort Washington, Maryland, told the outlet:
"I think there's a better use for the funds than polishing up these horses... In the end, it's not really going to make a lot of difference as to people's attitude about the District."Another resident, Karen from Fort Washington, called the finish "tacky" and compared it to "Home Depot gold spray paint," arguing the money could have been better spent on national parks.
The statues, originally bronze, were a gift from Italy and were erected in 1951. The statues underwent repairs in 1974 (Getty Images)
Context And Related Projects
The bronze statues were a gift from Italy and were first installed in 1951; they underwent repairs in 1974. The gilded sculptures are part of a broader beautification push led by President Donald Trump's administration that is estimated at roughly $1.2 billion for various Washington, D.C., projects.
Nearby, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool became the subject of ridicule after it turned green with algae shortly after being resurfaced. Prosecutors at one point considered charging a former Olympian with vandalism in connection with the pool; those efforts were later dropped after U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said the contractor hired on a no-bid contract had caused the damage.
Trump's taste for gilding shows up in other proposals as well: The administration has floated plans for a vast golden ballroom estimated at roughly $600 million — with reports that taxpayers could shoulder a significant portion — and a proposed 250-foot Triumphal Arch to sit at the end of the Arlington Memorial Bridge, topped by a golden winged figure and flanked by gilded eagles.
Reporting And Sources
The editing of the clip was first reported by The Daily Beast; WTOP's longer interviews provide the fuller range of public reaction; NOTUS and federal records were cited for the project's cost and use of nearly 24-karat gold leaf.
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