Trump installs new statues in the White House Rose Garden
US President Donald Trump has placed statues of several American historical figures in the White House Rose Garden next to the Oval Office. Earlier, the lawn in this space was replaced with a white-stone patio. NDTV World reports on the changes to the historic garden.
The newest exhibit is a bronze sculpture of Thomas Jefferson, depicted seated while signing the Declaration of Independence. It was donated by George Lundeen, a sculptor from Loveland, Colorado. The garden already features statues of George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin, as well as the sculpture Freedom's Charge.
A gift for the United States' 250th anniversary
Lundeen said he created the Jefferson sculpture several decades ago and kept it on his ranch. He decided to restore the work and donate it to the White House for the United States' 250th anniversary celebration on July 4. However, the statue did not arrive on time: according to the sculptor's friend and employee, Stephen Barber, the truck carrying it was delayed, including because of heightened security measures around the festive events.
Trump was shown photographs of the sculpture, after which he decided to place it in the Rose Garden. Lundeen provided the Associated Press with a recording of a voice message in which Trump thanked him for the work and said there was a “wonderful place right in the Rose Garden” for it.
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Other sculptures and plans
According to the White House, the statue of the first US president, George Washington, was provided on temporary loan by Texas developer Harlan Crow. The 4.3-meter bronze sculpture Freedom's Charge, depicting two soldiers from the American Revolution, was transported from Dallas. The statues of Franklin and Hamilton came from anonymous donors.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said that Trump is continuing “long-overdue” renovation work at the White House. The installation of the statues is part of a series of changes that also includes a gilded update to the Oval Office and the construction of a ballroom and a helipad on the southern part of the White House grounds.
Trump also plans to create the National Garden of American Heroes near the National Mall in Washington, featuring sculptures of 250 Americans who made significant contributions to the country's culture, politics and history. Several cultural heritage preservation organizations have filed lawsuits, arguing that the project must first be approved by Congress.
