Fact Check: Is Trump planning to sign an executive order to add himself to Mount Rushmore?

PENNINGTON COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA: Months after President Donald Trump expressed interest in having his face carved on Mount Rushmore, a claim began circulating on social media platforms recently that the president has signed an executive order to add himself to the historic monument. The claim has sparked speculation among many. Let us fact-check it.

Claim: Donald Trump plans to add himself to Mount Rushmore

The claim surfaced on a post on X, which came with the caption stating, “Donald Trump reportedly plans to sign an executive order to add himself to Mount Rushmore.”

As of this writing, the post has garnered twenty thousand views within a span of an hour and hundreds of likes and shares.

People commenting under the post appear to believe the claim to be true, especially as the president has expressed ambition to have his face carved on the structure. 

Fact Check: The claim originated as a satire 

The claim, however, is false, as it is posted by a popular parody account called Hoops Crave. The account in its bio states itself as a 'parody account not affiliated with @PopCrave.' 

Moreover, there is no official statement from the president or the White House informing about the executive order, which, if true, would have been widely covered by credible news media outlets. 

Experts once stated that Trump’s dream of having his face carved into Mount Rushmore is virtually impossible. 

According to a report by The New York Times, the National Park Service, which oversees Mount Rushmore, has confirmed: “The carved portion of Mount Rushmore has been thoroughly evaluated, and there are no viable locations left for additional carvings.”

A fact check by Grok, the AI assistant of X, has also debunked the claim, stating, “This appears to be a satirical post from a parody account. I couldn't find confirmation of Trump planning an executive order for Mount Rushmore."

"However, in 2025, Rep. Luna introduced H.R. 792 to add his likeness, citing his contributions. Trump has mused about it in the past, possibly for legacy reasons. Feasibility is debated due to costs and site limitations.”

Proposal to include Donald Trump on the iconic monument 

The idea of adding Donald Trump’s face to Mount Rushmore resurfaced earlier last year when MAGA congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna introduced a bill proposing his inclusion on the iconic monument.

In her proposal, Luna wrote: “President Trump’s bold leadership and steadfast dedication to America’s greatness have cemented his place in history. Mount Rushmore, a timeless symbol of our nation’s freedom and strength, deserves to reflect his towering legacy — a legacy further solidified by the powerful start to his second term.”

“He will be forever remembered among the greats like Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt,” she added.