In a stunning blend of nostalgia and high-stakes drama, there’s talk of adding President Trump’s face to the iconic Mount Rushmore. No, you didn’t just misread the latest satirical headline—supporters are serious about the endeavor, with some high-profile allies suggesting that the former president’s mug deserves its own place in American rock history. However, there is no official confirmation regarding the feasibility of this addition, and the Department of the Interior has not confirmed that there’s room for another face.
The concept of a new addition to Mount Rushmore seems to grow more real with every tweet and statement from Trump supporters, and it seems no one is holding back on their enthusiasm for the idea. Various allies have been expressing eager endorsement. Such discussions come on the heels of a shiny, golden Mount Rushmore monument supposedly gifted to Trump at Mar-a-Lago, though there is no credible evidence of such a monument.
Of course, these ambitions haven’t gone unnoticed, particularly by those opposed to the idea. As it turns out, the inclusion of Trump’s visage might be a geological non-starter. Experts warn that any attempts to modify the historic site risks damaging the existing four faces of monumental leaders, who still hold their own in popularity. The very rock itself is deemed unsuitable to support new additions, presenting the risk of literal and symbolic collapse.
As plans are floated and energy runs high among Trump’s camp, skeptics point to a history of challenges and compromises in creating the original monument. They contend that Mount Rushmore was never intended to be a political free-for-all for current or past presidents, framing it instead as a tribute to American ideals. Indeed, its creator’s granddaughter has weighed in, albeit with limited sway over decisions in Washington. Her voice joins a chorus worried that the work’s historical sanctity could be compromised by turning it into a revolving retinue of political celebrity.
But whether this is a calculated rally of spirits or a pipedream posed in jest, the spectacle of simply entertaining the idea of Trump on Mount Rushmore offers a dose of Fourth of July theatrics. As debates about history and heritage get wrapped up in fanfare and earthly challenges, it might take finding a whole other mountain for such ambitions to be realized. For now, what remains clear is the irresistibly American blend of possibility and humor that ensures this conversation will roll on, at least as long as it keeps certain cable news teams on their heels.
