Trump Installs Christopher Columbus Statue on White House Grounds

The controversial statue was previously removed from Baltimore and later rebuilt.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:06pm

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Former President Donald Trump has installed a statue of Christopher Columbus on the White House grounds, his latest effort to celebrate the famed and controversial explorer. The statue is a reconstruction of a piece that was previously removed from Baltimore in 2020 amid racial justice protests. Trump has framed the move as an effort to honor Italian Americans and the legacy of Columbus.

Why it matters

The installation of the Columbus statue on White House grounds is the latest in a series of Trump-era efforts to commemorate historical figures whose legacies have become increasingly contested, particularly in light of the racial reckoning that swept the country in 2020. The move is likely to generate controversy, as many view Columbus as a symbol of colonization and the mistreatment of indigenous peoples.

The details

The statue is located outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, where it is visible from Pennsylvania Avenue NW and 17th Street NW. It is a reconstruction of a statue that President Ronald Reagan unveiled in Baltimore in 1984, which was later dumped into the city's harbor by protesters in 2020. A group of Italian American businessmen and politicians, working with local sculptors, obtained the pieces and rebuilt the statue with financial support from local charities and federal grant funding.

  • The statue was originally unveiled by President Reagan in Baltimore in 1984.
  • The original statue was dumped into Baltimore's harbor by protesters in July 2020.
  • The statue was rebuilt and gifted to the White House in 2022.
  • Trump rededicated the rebuilt statue in October 2022.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who installed the Christopher Columbus statue on White House grounds.

Ronald Reagan

The former President of the United States who originally unveiled the Christopher Columbus statue in Baltimore in 1984.

Nino Mangione

A Republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates who was involved in efforts to recover the Columbus statue from the Baltimore harbor.

Jeff Miron

The vice president for research at the Cato Institute, a prominent libertarian think tank, who criticized Trump's decision to erect the Columbus statue at the White House.

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What they’re saying

“In this White House, Christopher Columbus is a hero. And he will continue to be honored as such by President Trump.”

— Davis Ingle, White House spokesman

“This world is full of haters and screamers who want to silence our voices, our values, and our votes. President Trump is standing up to them because it is the right thing to do and I applaud his courage in doing so.”

— Nino Mangione, Republican member of the Maryland House of Delegates

“President Trump's decision to erect a Christopher Columbus statue at the White House exemplifies why government shouldn't be in the statue business at all.”

— Jeff Miron, Vice president for research at the Cato Institute

What’s next

The installation of the Christopher Columbus statue on White House grounds is likely to generate ongoing controversy and debate over the legacy of the explorer and the appropriate way to commemorate historical figures whose actions have had both positive and negative impacts.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's decision to install a statue of Christopher Columbus on White House grounds reflects the former president's efforts to celebrate figures from American history whose legacies have become increasingly contested, particularly in light of the racial reckoning that swept the country in 2020. This move is likely to further inflame debates over how to properly acknowledge and contextualize the complex histories of historical figures.