Trump adds jefferson statue to rose garden – a stark reminder of presidential preferences

The White House Rose Garden received a decidedly unexpected addition this week: a full-scale bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson, brought to life by Colorado sculptor George Lundeen in 1994.

A $2 million renovation and a controversial placement

The statue, depicting the third president in contemplative repose with a draft of the Declaration of Independence, arrived as part of a $2 million hardscaping makeover completed at President Trump’s behest last year. It’s not the first presidential portrait gracing this space; Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and Revolutionary War soldiers, all courtesy of Republican donor Harlan Crow, already reside beneath the meticulously manicured hedges.

Independent filmmaker Steven C. Barber orchestrated the donation, valuing the piece at a staggering $150,000. The placement itself – a rather conspicuous addition to the existing collection – raises questions about the priorities of this administration.

Notably, Lundeen is also responsible for the imposing statue of Trump himself, currently installed at the Trump International Golf Club in Florida. That piece, a forceful depiction of the former president with an outstretched fist, was a collaborative effort with Joey Bainer and Lundeen’s brother, Mark Lundeen. The fate of Jefferson’s Rose Garden monument remains uncertain post-presidency, with speculation centering on a potential relocation to Trump’s planned presidential library in Miami – or perhaps a donation back to the White House itself, subject to the oversight of the White House Usher’s Office and the National Park Service.

The long-term implications of this symbolic gesture are, frankly, significant. It’s a bold statement, one that speaks volumes about the current occupant's particular historical lens and, perhaps, a calculated attempt to reshape the narrative of American leadership.