Trump praised Italian Americans as “industrious, brilliant, wonderful people”, saying the tribute is something the community has greatly appreciated.
The 13-foot, one-ton replica was installed outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in March as part of the America250 celebrations, marking preparations for the United States’ 250th anniversary.
The statue was rebuilt partly using salvaged pieces from the original Baltimore monument, which was toppled and thrown into Baltimore’s Inner Harbor during protests in 2020.
The installation has renewed attention on Columbus’s historical legacy and the long-running debate surrounding monuments to him in the United States.
