President Donald Trump is once again floating the idea of having his face carved into Mount Rushmore, reigniting a debate that merges politics, legacy, and literal rock-hard egos. Trump has reportedly been enamored with the idea since his first term in office, with former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem even gifting him a $1,100 bust depicting his face added to the monument during his 2020 visit to the site. Now, with renewed influence and support, the movement has escalated with Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna recently introducing a House bill aimed at making the idea a reality.
Despite the enthusiasm among Trumpโs loyal supporters, historians and experts remain unconvinced, and some, outright appalled. The National Park Service has made it clear that no additional carvings are possible on the granite mountain, not just for historical reasons, but structural ones. The rock formation, carved between 1927 and 1941, has long been known to be delicate and unpredictable, making further alterations not only ill-advised but potentially damaging. โThere are no viable locations left for additional carvings,โ the Park Service confirmed to The New York Times.
Beyond the physical limitations, thereโs also the matter of intent. Sculptor Gutzon Borglum originally chose George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln to represent the birth, growth, development, and preservation of the United States. Many believe that legacy should remain untouched. โYou wouldnโt add another face to Borglumโs Mount Rushmore just like you wouldnโt add one to da Vinciโs Last Supper,โ said former Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. โBut I recognize that these types of ideas are no longer off the table.โ
The Internet Has Thoughts, And Theyโre Not Subtle
While lawmakers and officials continue to debate the logistics, the internet wasted no time sounding off, and many users didnโt hold back, especially in light of Trumpโs recent criminal conviction. One user summed up the sentiment bluntly, writing, โWe donโt put convicted felons on display.โ Another echoed the outrage with biting sarcasm, โHe proudly displays his mugshot in the Oval Office, so of course he wants his face on Rushmore. God help us.โ
The mockery didnโt stop there. One commenter joked, โHe needs to be on a rock wall at the Willy Wonka Factoryโฆ where most Oompa Loompas are,โ while another declared, โTypical Trump. Has to ruin everything because of his ego.โ Others took a more impassioned tone, with one writing, โLord, donโt let that happen. It would be the biggest insult to those presidents that are there. If he was carved beside them, theyโd probably dissolve and leave him up there by himself.โ And in perhaps the most cutting response, one person noted, โHeโd look better with bars in front of his face.โ
Together, the reactions painted a clear picture: while the idea of a fifth face on Mount Rushmore may excite Trump and his supporters, many Americans arenโt just uninterested. Theyโre insulted by the thought.
