Trump Moves to Install Columbus Statue Near White House, Reviving Cultural Debate

US President Donald Trump is moving ahead with plans to install a replica statue of Christopher Columbus near the White House, reviving a long-running cultural and political debate over the explorer’s legacy.

The statue, owned by Italian American Organizations United, was previously thrown into Baltimore’s Inner Harbor during racial justice protests in 2020. It will now be loaned to the federal government for display at or near the White House.

John Pica, president of the organization, said his group agreed unanimously to lend the statue after being contacted last year by an intermediary who said the White House was seeking a Columbus monument. The loan agreement was signed on Wednesday.

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” Pica told The Associated Press when asked about the installation. He said the statue could be placed “possibly within two weeks,” though the exact timeline remains uncertain.

Maryland state delegate Nino Mangione, who worked with the group to relocate the statue after it was removed from the harbor, also confirmed the plans, first reported by The Washington Post.

The White House declined to comment on the installation but reaffirmed Trump’s support for honoring Columbus. “In this White House, Christopher Columbus is a hero,” Trump spokesman David Ingle said. “And he will continue to be honored as such by President Trump.”

For Italian American groups, the statue represents pride in a historical figure long regarded as symbolic of their heritage. For Trump, the move reflects his broader effort to shape how American history is presented, particularly as the country approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Trump has consistently endorsed a traditional view of Columbus as the leader of the 1492 voyage that marked the beginning of European colonization in the Americas. Critics, however, argue that Columbus symbolises the exploitation, displacement and suffering of Indigenous peoples.

The statue is a replica of one toppled and thrown into the harbor on July 4, 2020, amid nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd. It was later rebuilt by artist Will Hemsley using parts of the original monument.

In recent years, many states and institutions have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day. Former president Joe Biden formally recognised Indigenous Peoples Day in 2021.

Pica said the statue’s placement near the White House would not necessarily be permanent and could be reclaimed if a future administration chooses to remove it.

Trump has dismissed criticism of Columbus as politically motivated, accusing “left-wing activists” of distorting history. Last year, he pledged to “bring Columbus Day back from the ashes” and criticised Democrats for undermining the explorer’s legacy.

In October, Trump issued a Columbus Day proclamation praising Columbus as “the original American hero” and “a giant of Western civilisation.”

The proposed installation aligns with Trump’s wider campaign to reshape historical narratives. In 2025, he signed an executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” calling for a review of museum exhibits and urging federally funded institutions to scale back diversity and inclusion initiatives.