Controversy Among Nebraska Lawmakers Over Capitol Portrait Removal
A Nebraska state senator has stirred up some debate after taking down a portrait from the State Capitol as part of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The senator, Makaela Kavanaugh from Omaha, is defending her actions.
On Wednesday, Kavanaugh removed several artworks, including photos from a display by the Founders Museum. This display, intended to honor heroes of the American Revolutionary War, was associated with PragerU.
Republican Governor Jim Pillen reacted strongly, asserting that “Celebrating America’s 250th anniversary should be a moment of unity and patriotism, not divisive and destructive partisan conflict.” He shared surveillance footage on X showing Kavanaugh removing the portrait, with one still image capturing her smiling as she took it away.
Kavanaugh stated that she believed the exhibit infringed on Capitol rules, arguing, “We are not allowed to paste anything on the walls in the hallways of the Capitol.” She insisted on her commitment to following the rules, adding, “I’ve always been a stickler for rules, so I removed things that were prohibited.”
Interestingly, some questioned her intentions, as she claimed to have tried to remove the image without causing damage and later notified the Nebraska State Patrol, stating that she kept the photo in her office.
According to reports, the removed artworks were eventually restored to their original places in the Capitol.
Meanwhile, Chairman John Arch confirmed that while some artwork may require approval for display in the Capitol, the Commission had authorized the Founders Museum exhibit.
In light of Kavanaugh’s actions, PragerU posed a rhetorical question on X: “Why would an elected official remove a tribute to American history from the walls of the Capitol?”
Kavanaugh, described as an “officially nonpartisan Congressional Democrat,” had previously made headlines in 2023 during a filibuster of the Let’s Grow Act, which sought to ban gender-related surgeries for minors. Her passionate chants about “trans people” during that debate drew significant attention.
Despite her theatrics, the “Let Them Grow” act passed and was signed into law by Governor Pillen.
