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President Donald Trump has fundamentally redesigned the White House Rose Garden by installing statues of prominent American founders and replacing its traditional lawn with a white stone patio. The transformation mirrors the aesthetic of his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, converting the historic outdoor space adjacent to the Oval Office into a sculpture exhibition area.
A bronze sculpture depicting Thomas Jefferson signing the Declaration of Independence, created by Colorado sculptor George Lundeen, represents the garden’s latest addition. The work joined existing statues of George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin, along with a fifth sculpture titled “Freedom’s Charge” featuring two Revolutionary War soldiers flanking a flag.
Lundeen crafted the Jefferson sculpture decades earlier and maintained it at his ranch before deciding to refurbish and donate it to Trump. Though the piece failed to arrive in time for Fourth of July celebrations marking America’s 250th birthday due to heavy security restrictions, Trump viewed photographs and approved its placement in the Rose Garden. Trump personally called Lundeen to express his appreciation, leaving a voicemail message praising the sculpture’s appearance.
The Washington statue came through a loan arrangement with Harlan Crow, a Texas-based real estate magnate and major Republican donor. The Hamilton and Franklin statues originated from anonymous donors, while the Dallas-based “Freedom’s Charge” sculpture was relocated to the presidential residence. White House spokesperson Davis Ingle defended the renovations as necessary beautification efforts befitting the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Trump’s statue initiative extends beyond the Rose Garden to include a Christopher Columbus monument installed at the nearby Eisenhower Executive Office Building in March. His broader vision encompasses the proposed National Garden of American Heroes near the National Mall, designed to feature 250 sculptures honoring significant American cultural and political contributors. Several preservation organizations have filed lawsuits challenging the garden’s authorization and implementation.
At his West Palm Beach golf club, Trump displays a seven-foot bronze sculpture showing him with a raised fist following the 2024 assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania campaign rally. Lundeen also created this work, presented as a gift by businessman and Republican congressional candidate Anthony Constantino from New York.
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