Trump Administration to Display Statue of Founding Father Who Enslaved Dozens

The statue of Caesar Rodney, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and an enslaver, will be installed in Washington, D.C. as part of the administration's 250th anniversary commemoration.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 4:53am

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The Trump administration plans to display a statue of Caesar Rodney, a signer of the Declaration of Independence who enslaved 200 people, in Washington, D.C. The statue was previously taken down in 2020 from its location in Wilmington, Delaware amid racial justice protests following the killing of George Floyd. The National Park Service will install the bronze statue of Rodney on horseback in Freedom Plaza for up to six months as part of the administration's commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding.

Why it matters

The decision to display Rodney's statue, which was removed due to his history as an enslaver, is seen by civil rights advocates as part of the Trump administration's campaign against 'anti-American' ideology and efforts to reverse decades of social progress. This move highlights the ongoing debate around how to commemorate historical figures with complex legacies.

The details

The statue of Caesar Rodney, a Delaware plantation owner, will be installed in Washington, D.C.'s Freedom Plaza for up to six months as part of the Trump administration's 250th anniversary commemoration of the nation's founding. Rodney enslaved 200 people, and his statue was taken down in 2020 from its location in Wilmington, Delaware amid racial justice protests following the killing of George Floyd. The Interior Department did not note Rodney's history as an enslaver or that the statue was previously removed, stating only that displaying it was part of the administration's commitment to 'acknowledging the full breadth of our nation's history'.

  • The statue was taken down from its location in Wilmington, Delaware in 2020 amid racial justice protests.
  • The National Park Service plans to install the statue in Washington, D.C.'s Freedom Plaza for up to six months in 2026.

The players

Caesar Rodney

A signer of the Declaration of Independence and a Delaware plantation owner who enslaved 200 people.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who ordered the dismantling of slavery exhibits and restoration of Confederate statues as part of a campaign against what he calls 'anti-American' ideology.

National Park Service

The federal agency that plans to install the statue of Caesar Rodney in Washington, D.C.

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What’s next

The Interior Department has not provided details on the specific timeline for the installation of the statue in Washington, D.C., but it is expected to remain in place for up to six months as part of the administration's 250th anniversary commemoration.

The takeaway

This decision to display the statue of Caesar Rodney, a founding father who enslaved hundreds of people, highlights the ongoing debate around how to commemorate historical figures with complex legacies. The move is seen by some as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to reverse progress on social justice issues and promote a more nationalistic view of American history.