Installation of Christopher Columbus Statue near the White House

On March 22, 2026, a statue of Christopher Columbus was installed on the grounds of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB), which is located immediately adjacent to the White House in Washington, D.C. This move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to restore and protect monuments that were removed or damaged during past protests.

History of the Statue

The statue placed near the White House is a marble replica of a monument that originally stood in Baltimore's Little Italy.

• Original Installation: The original Baltimore statue was unveiled in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan.

• 2020 Protests: On July 4, 2020, during nationwide protests against systemic racism and police brutality, protesters toppled the Baltimore statue and threw it into the city's Inner Harbor.

• Restoration: Following its recovery, pieces of the original statue were used by sculptor Will Hemsley to create a 13-foot, one-ton reconstruction.

Key Details of the Relocation

The relocation was facilitated through a loan agreement between the federal government and the Italian American Organizations United, the group that owns the statue.

• Location: The statue stands on the north side of the EEOB, visible from Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street NW.

• Official Stance: White House spokesperson Davis Ingle stated, "In this White House, Christopher Columbus is a hero, and President Trump will ensure he's honored as such for generations to come."

• Significance: The administration has framed the installation as a celebration of Italian American heritage and a defense of traditional historical narratives.

Broader Context

The installation coincides with the administration's "America250" initiative, marking the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States. It also follows President Trump's earlier executive orders aimed at protecting federal monuments and his specific promises to "bring Columbus Day back from the ashes."

The move has been met with both praise from Italian American civic groups and criticism from those who view Columbus as a symbol of the colonization and genocide of Indigenous peoples.