US President Donald Trump on 9 October 2026 formally called for the immediate restoration of a Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus, Ohio, escalating his administration's campaign to protect and reinstate historical monuments across the United States. The demand was made during a Columbus Day celebration held in the East Room of the White House.

What Trump Said

'But today, I'm officially calling for the statue to be returned immediately to where it belongs,' Trump declared. 'We demand that Christopher Columbus be put back into the heart of Columbus, Ohio. We want it back in Columbus,' he added.

The President did not specify whether his administration intends to pursue legal or administrative measures to compel the statue's return. His remarks were part of a broader address in which he praised Columbus, celebrated Italian American contributions to the United States, and condemned the removal of monuments during protests in recent years.

Administration's Monument Restoration Efforts

Trump said his administration had already taken concrete steps to restore Columbus's standing in American public life. He noted that a statue of Columbus had been placed near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, directly across from the White House, and said the installation had drawn positive reactions from the public.

The President also announced plans to install an additional Columbus statue in the White House Rose Garden, with one 19th-century statue reportedly brought from Italy and another — crafted by an artisan involved in White House construction — set to receive a prominent placement.

Trump credited Interior Secretary Doug Burgum with overseeing restoration work on 82 monuments, fountains, and statues across Washington, including renovations to the fountain at Columbus Circle.

Baltimore Incident and Italian American Community

Trump recalled the destruction of a Columbus statue in Baltimore in July 2020, when protesters pulled down the monument near the city's Little Italy neighbourhood and threw its remains into Baltimore Harbour. He praised Italian Americans who organised divers and equipment to recover the fragments, noting that the community had subsequently raised more than $100,000 towards rebuilding the statue.

The President argued that the demolition of Columbus monuments had deeply offended Italian Americans and said his administration was committed to reversing what he described as an attack on their heritage.

Broader Monument Protection Policy

Trump also referenced vandalism to several federal landmarks, citing damage to stonework and graffiti on historic structures. He argued that stronger enforcement of laws protecting federal monuments had curbed further destruction.

Recalling unrest during his first term, Trump said he had invoked an existing statute carrying severe penalties for damaging federal monuments, claiming the warning deterred protesters who were reportedly preparing to topple a statue honouring former President Andrew Jackson.

The President further criticised campaigns targeting monuments associated with George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Thomas Jefferson, vowing that his administration would continue defending historical figures whose contributions shaped the United States.

With monument restoration now a recurring theme of the Trump administration's cultural agenda, the Columbus, Ohio statue demand signals that pressure on local governments over historical markers is likely to intensify.