President Donald Trump shared a video on his social media platform, Truth Social, depicting a golden replica of Mount Rushmore with his face added alongside Abraham Lincoln. The video begins with the phrase “Art of the vision” set against an American flag. Trump’s voiceover predicts his lasting legacy as president, saying “I will be the greatest president for many, many years to come,” followed by “And we’re gonna have a lot of fun tonight.”
This video was released in anticipation of Trump’s speech at Mount Rushmore during a weekend dedicated to celebrating America’s 250th birthday. The president traveled to the South Dakota monument, which features the sculptures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. He delivered his speech beneath these iconic granite faces. Trump’s interest in possibly being memorialized on Mount Rushmore has been occasionally mentioned over the years. However, it is widely acknowledged that due to space constraints, additional sculptures on Mount Rushmore would be unlikely.
Trump’s Mount Rushmore Speech
During his speech, Trump highlighted America’s semiquincentennial, praising the nation as “the most successful, most accomplished, most exceptional nation ever to exist in human history.” He addressed attendees saying, “Tonight we gather on the eve of one of the most extraordinary days in the history of the world. Tomorrow, we mark 250 years of glorious independence and 250 years of majestic American freedom.” Trump spoke for around 30 minutes, warning against perceived threats from the political left, stating, “Communism is a mortal threat to American liberty. It is the greatest threat to our country, including World War I, World War II, Pearl Harbor or even 9/11.” His remarks come in response to the electoral success of progressive Democrats in recent key primaries leading up to the 2026 midterms.
Trump and Mount Rushmore Discussions
The idea of adding Trump to Mount Rushmore has been suggested by various figures over time. Former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem shared that Trump expressed his “dream” of being etched into the mountain during a 2018 Oval Office meeting. Trump later remarked in a 2019 interview with The Hill that addressing such a possibility would result in “such bad publicity.” Despite this, in 2020, reports indicated he had discussed becoming part of the monument. Trump denied having formally proposed it but wrote online, “Never suggested it although, based on all of the many things accomplished during the first 3 1/2 years, perhaps more than any other Presidency, sounds like a good idea to me!” A rendering of Trump alongside the Mount Rushmore figures was shared online in May of 2026.
Support within the GOP exists for the idea. Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida introduced legislation in 2025, seeking to direct the Department of the Interior to carve Trump’s likeness into the monument, citing his leadership as deserving recognition. Representative Andy Ogles of Tennessee also publicly encouraged federal officials to contemplate such a proposal. A White House spokesperson, Taylor Rogers, suggested adding Trump to the monument, stating to The Washington Post, “There would be no better addition to the iconic Mount Rushmore than the 45th and 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump.” However, space limitations on Mount Rushmore have been noted, with historic documentation indicating that adding a fifth sculpture would not be viable due to stone limitations.
Upcoming Events and Celebrations
Trump’s appearance at Mount Rushmore precedes a “Freedom 250” address planned for Washington, D.C., on July 4. The semiquincentennial marks a long-standing milestone coordinated by a congressionally established commission alongside various affiliated organizations, aiming to orchestrate nationwide events and commemorations.
This event is still unfolding with more updates anticipated.