White House Installs New Christopher Columbus Statue from Remains of Toppled Baltimore Monument

The 13-foot, one-ton replica was commissioned by the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations after Baltimore officials refused to put up the new monument.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 9:56pm

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A new statue of Christopher Columbus has been installed on the White House grounds, built using pieces from a monument to the Italian explorer that protesters destroyed in Baltimore in 2020. The 13-foot, one-ton replica was commissioned by the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations and is part of the White House's celebration of America's 250th anniversary.

Why it matters

The new Columbus statue is a symbol of pride and cultural identity for millions of Italian Americans, whose community faced prejudice and hardship when the Columbus Day holiday emerged in the aftermath of the 1891 New Orleans lynching of Italian immigrants. However, the original Baltimore statue was toppled by Black Lives Matter activists who argued Columbus was responsible for the genocide and exploitation of native peoples.

The details

Artists retrieved shards of marble belonging to the wrecked Baltimore statue from the city's inner harbor and used them to recreate the 13-foot, one-ton monument. The new statue has been placed outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building after officials in Baltimore refused to install it.

  • In July 2020, the original Baltimore Columbus statue was torn down by Black Lives Matter activists.
  • Last year, President Trump signed a proclamation hailing Columbus as an American hero.

The players

Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations

The organization that commissioned the new Christopher Columbus statue for the White House, citing the monument as a symbol of pride and cultural identity for Italian Americans.

Basil M. Russo

The president of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations, who stated that Columbus statues have long stood as symbols of unity and belonging for Italian immigrants.

William Donald Schaefer

The former Mayor of Baltimore who dedicated the original Columbus statue in 1984, along with former President Ronald Reagan.

Jack Young

The former Mayor of Baltimore who acknowledged that the Columbus monument "may represent different things to different people" at the time of its destruction.

Donald Trump

The former President who signed a proclamation last year hailing Columbus as an American hero, declaring "Columbus Day — we're back, Italians. We love the Italians."

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What they’re saying

“Columbus statues have long stood as symbols of pride and cultural identity for more than 18 million Americans of Italian descent. For over a century, Columbus's legacy helped Italian immigrants navigate prejudice and hardship, serving as a source of unity and belonging as they built new lives in this country.”

— Basil M. Russo, President, Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations

“We understand the dynamics that are playing out in Baltimore are part of a national narrative.”

— Spokesperson for Baltimore Mayor Jack Young

What’s next

The White House has not indicated any further plans related to the new Christopher Columbus statue beyond its installation.

The takeaway

The installation of the new Christopher Columbus statue at the White House highlights the ongoing debate over the explorer's legacy and the cultural significance of such monuments, particularly for Italian Americans who have long viewed them as symbols of pride and identity, even as others argue they represent the exploitation and genocide of native peoples.