President Donald Trump has always wanted to put his name on every building in Manhattan. When he couldn’t achieve that, he aimed for mountains. His dream of having his face carved into Mount Rushmore alongside George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt may come true during this term.
One can hold then-South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem responsible for feeding him the idea when she presented him with a model of the monument with his face on it. Trump, of course, loved the idea and allied it with his honor.
However, this dream of his has regularly collided with the reality of the difficulty of this task. Historians, engineers, and lawmakers. The biggest resistance comes from Robin Borglum Kennedy.
Robin Borglum Kennedy is the granddaughter of Gutzon Borglum. He was the original creator behind the iconic national memorial. She has dismissed Donald Trump’s dream, and the idea of having his face added to the monument. She said that the monument is meant to celebrate the founding ideas and ideals of the United States. It is definitely not there to pay tribute to political figures or boost someone’s ego.
Granddaughter of Mt Rushmore artist SLAMS Trump wanting face on sculptural icon
Trump’s ‘good idea’, or sacrilege? pic.twitter.com/svyUdWKAE8
— RT (@RT_com) June 30, 2025
Kennedy also emphasized that this monument was her grandfather’s vision. A dream that is already fulfilled. It is not a work in progress. And any addition would undermine the historical and artistic integrity of it.
She added that the monument is a part of American history. And it shouldn’t be reduced to a cheap mantle like this.
Geological and structural experts have also warned against adding anything new to the monument. Experts have claimed that carving a new face could physically destabilize Mount Rushmore. Paul Nelson is an experienced geo-mechanical engineer. He has noted that the granite on the hill is riddled with microfractures. If there are attempts to add another figure, it could completely destabilize the mountain. It could cause cracks or even rockslides.
Delusions of grandeur: When meeting the governor of SD Trump said, “Do you know it’s my dream to have my face on Mount Rushmore?’ She started laughing but then realized, “He wasn’t laughing, so he was totally serious.” The White House formally inquired https://t.co/OMO0K2r3f4
— Duty To Warn 🔉 (@duty2warn) August 9, 2020
Nelson has also added that the original construction was carefully designed with specific limitations. Suppose there is any tampering with the stone. It could pose a major risk.
The National Park Service has echoed similar sentiments, too. They have affirmed that Mount Rushmore is a “completed work of art.” They added that it is structurally unsuitable for further modification.
Even though there is an overwhelming expert and public opposition, the MAGA crowd is persistent. It has become more about making their leader happy at any cost. The cost could also mean damage to American history.
Republican Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna recently introduced a bill. It aimed at exploring the possibility of adding Trump to Mount Rushmore. As expected, other than MAGA, the legislation is seen by many as more performative than practical.
The National Park Service has firmly opposed any new carvings. An official report also stated that “there is no secure rock surface” for additional sculptures.
🚨 President Trump announces that the National Garden of American Heroes will include statues of African American icons Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Coretta Scott King, Frederick Douglas, Jackie Robinson, MLK Jr., Muhammad Ali, and Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/D5Iv01Gka4
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 20, 2025
Now that Mount Rushmore is largely off the table, Trump and his supporters are looking for new avenues to have his face on. Among various options suggested, one is the National Garden of American Heroes. It is an ambitious project that would include statues of up to 250 historical figures.
There are also plans for a sculpture garden and learning center in the Black Hills region. It could include a statue of Trump and serve as a more feasible alternative to Rushmore.
While Trump’s Mount Rushmore fantasy may remain unrealized, efforts to cement his legacy in American stone are far from over.
