The Trump administration has unequivocally rejected a Washington committee’s series of recommendations regarding how to “rename, remove, or contextualize” dozens of monuments, schools, parks, and buildings in the area, among which are the Washington Monument and Jefferson Memorial.
“As the mayor of our Nation’s capital city—a city that belongs to the American people—she ought to be ashamed for even suggesting them for consideration,” McEnany said.
Deputy press secretary Judd Deere weighed in on Twitter, asking rhetorically whether Bowser’s Twitter page was a parody account. “Thank God [President Trump] would never consider such an idea,” he wrote.
- Columbus Fountain
- Benjamin Franklin Statue
- Andrew Jackson Statue
- Jefferson Memorial
- George Mason Memorial
- Newlands Memorial Fountain
- Albert Pike Statue
- Washington Monument
- George Washington Statue
In its summary, the group says its “decision-making prism” focused on “key disqualifying histories, including participation in slavery, systemic racism, mistreatment of, or actions that suppressed equality for, persons of color, women and LGBTQ communities and violation of the DC Human Rights Act.”
The White House statement from McEnany accused Bowser of “repeating the same left-wing narrative used to incite dangerous riots: demolishing our history and destroying our great heritage,” noting that the working group’s plan recommends potentially removing the Washington Monument, Christopher Columbus Statue, Andrew Jackson Statue, and Jefferson Memorial, and contains “many other ludicrous recommendations.”
“Our Nation’s capital is rightly filled with countless markers, memorials, and statues to honor and respect the men and women who built this country,” McEnany said, adding that Trump “believes these places should be preserved, not torn down; respected, not hated; and passed on for generations to come.”
In addition to targeting federal properties, the DCFACES committee in its report called for the renaming of 21 public schools; nine residential buildings and campuses; 12 public spaces—parks, fields, and playgrounds; and seven government buildings.
