Alabama Senator Mocked for Attempt to Add Trump to Mount Rushmore

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Sen. Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican, has been widely mocked for a thinly veiled attempt to suck up to former President Donald Trump. On Presidents Day, Tuberville posted an image of Mount Rushmore with Trump's face digitally added, and suggested renaming the holiday 'President Donald J. Trump Day'. Tuberville's critics, including Democratic Rep. Brendan Boyle and columnist Nicholas Kristof, lambasted the idea as embarrassing and inappropriate, noting that the day is meant to honor the Founding Fathers, not Trump.

Why it matters

Tuberville's post highlights the ongoing efforts by some Republicans to elevate Trump and his legacy, even in the face of his declining popularity and multiple scandals. It also reflects the broader political divisions in the country, with Democrats and others strongly opposing any attempts to glorify Trump at the expense of the nation's founding principles and historical figures.

The details

In his social media post, Tuberville, a former football coach who is now running for Alabama governor, wrote: 'As we reflect on our nation's greatest presidents, it's hard to think of a President who has been more influential in modern history than President Trump. Petition to rename today as 'President Donald J. Trump Day'?' His critics, including Democratic Rep. Brendan Boyle and columnist Nicholas Kristof, lambasted the idea, with Boyle telling Tuberville to 'Get off your knees' and Kristof drawing a comparison to Chinese leader Mao Zedong being surrounded by 'bootlickers'.

• On Presidents Day (February 17, 2026)
• In January 2025, Trump's aide Corey Lewandowski raised the possibility of adding Trump's face to Mount Rushmore

What they’re saying

What’s next

The National Park Service has stated that there are no secure surfaces left on the Mount Rushmore rock face to make additions, so any effort to add Trump's face to the monument would likely face significant obstacles.