New Christopher Columbus Statue Installed at the White House

The White House has recently placed a 13-foot-high statue of Christopher Columbus on its grounds. This statue comes as a replacement for the original one that was vandalized and discarded during the 2020 riots in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, nearly six years earlier.

White House Press Secretary Davis Engle stated, “As we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary of independence, the White House is proud to honor the legendary life and legacy of Christopher Columbus with a well-deserved statue on White House grounds.” This new bronze statue, weighing one ton, has been installed on the north side of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building as part of the Trump administration’s America 250 celebration.

A coalition called COPOMIAO, representing various Italian American advocacy groups, reported that the statue was reconstructed from salvaged materials and was installed at the White House on Sunday. This comes after Baltimore officials decided against restoring the original statue in the city’s Little Italy neighborhood.

President Trump expressed his appreciation in a letter to COPOMIAO President Basil M. Russo, noting that the statue stands beside another artwork titled “Freedom’s Charge,” which symbolizes the struggle for American independence. “These statues represent a moving historical progression in American history and will stand as eternal monuments to courage… and the extraordinary pride of our great Italian-American community,” he remarked, also highlighting Columbus’ significant role in shaping the nation’s history.

Trump called Columbus an “original American hero” and praised his journey in 1492 for carrying “wisdom, philosophy, reason, and culture” across the Atlantic, contributing to Western civilization. He expressed honor that this new statue would be placed on White House grounds.

In those tumultuous months following George Floyd’s death in May 2020, numerous statues deemed “racist” were vandalized or torn down, including a statue of George Washington in Portland and several Confederate monuments in Virginia.

Russo led a project over several months to celebrate Italian American history and culture, emphasizing the significance of Columbus in overcoming prejudice faced by Italian immigrants. The original Columbus statue had been unveiled by former President Ronald Reagan in 1984 but faced criticism over Columbus’ legacy and its implications for Native Americans, ultimately leading to its removal.

Russo noted that Columbus statues have historically symbolized pride and cultural identity for Italian Americans. He recounted how Columbus’ legacy helped Italian immigrants navigate the hardships they faced, contributing to a sense of unity and belonging. He added that Columbus Day emerged from the societal changes catalyzed by historical events in the 1890s, intending to foster greater acceptance of Italian Americans.

Engle affirmed the government’s efforts to preserve Columbus’ legacy, reiterating Trump’s recognition of him as “one of the bravest and most visionary men to ever walk the earth,” and emphasized the administration’s commitment to honoring Columbus for generations ahead.