New York (AP) – President Donald Trump plans to celebrate the 250th birthday American independence and create a new national sculpture garden while reviving efforts to severely punish those who vandalize or destroy existing statues and monuments.
Trump signed an executive decree establishing a White House working group on Wednesday to plan what he says will be a “big celebration worthy of the capital’s 250th anniversary”, which the country will celebrate the 4th July 2026.
Trump will be president of the working group, which will include a long list of senior administration officials, including secretaries from the firm.
The order also revives Trump’s plans to build a ” National garden of American heroes »With statues commemorating 250 historical figures.
Trump first announced plans for what he said to be “a new monument to the giants of our past” In a speech in 2020 Celebrate independence day at Mount Rushmore in southern Dakota. He had to present sculptures of dozens of American historical figures, including presidents, athletes and icons of pop culture.
Trump himself organized the list of who should be included – Davy Crockett, Billy Graham, Whitney Houston, Harriet Tubman and Antonin Scalia, among others.
No site has been selected, however, and the garden has never been funded by the congress. President Joe Biden abolished The working group after its election.
Trump’s announcement had come at a time of conservative reaction against efforts to eliminate the statues dedicated to Confederate leaders and the owners of slaves following The murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests.
“The national garden will honor American heroism after dozens of monuments to the Americans, including the presidents and founding fathers, overturned or destroyed and never restored,” said a white house document on the order shared with the ‘Associated Press before signature.
Wednesday’s action is also implemented A Trump decree signed in 2020And that Biden also overturned, which aimed to protect the monuments, monuments and statues of destruction and vandalism.
Trump had signed the order during the demonstrations against racial injustice that year after the police had thwarted an attempt as demonstrators to reduce a statue of former president Andrew Jackson in a park in front of the White House.
This previous ordinance had called on the Attorney General to prosecute to the fullest measure where the law or the group responsible for destroying it or vandalizing a monument, a memorial or a statue. He called for the maximum prosecution of anyone who prompted violence and illegal activities, and threatened organizations for the application of the law of states and locals with a loss if the federal dollars did not protect the monuments.
Wednesday’s ordinance quotes “recent examples of conduct requiring reintegration of this order” following the attack of October 7, 2023 against Israel by Hamas and the subsequent invasion of Israel of Gaza, including A demonstration last JuneWhen the demonstrators demanding a cease-fire vandalized statues and structures around the White House with graffiti.
The plans of the expected signature were reported for the first time by Fox News.
During his campaign in 2024, Trump spoke of creating a “Halite to America 250” celebration. He said that during his first day in power, he would summon a working group which would be responsible for coordination with the governments of states and local to plan festivities, starting this commemorative day.
He said that he wanted the plan to understand a “big year of the American state” of a year in Iowa, with pavilions which “would present the glory of each state of the Union, would promote the pride of Our history and would offer innovative visions for the future of America ”.
And he said that he wanted to launch “Patriot games” – sports competitions featuring high school athletes from across the country which, according to him, would allow young Americans of each state to show the best of American skills, of the sporting spirit and the competitive spirit ”.
