Trump shares photos of $5M gold-plating of statues, says regilding is nearing completion
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump shared photos on Truth Social highlighting the restoration of the monumental gilded sculptures "Valor" and "Sacrifice," saying the regilding of "Valor" is complete while work on "Sacrifice" is progressing rapidly.
The National Park Service is currently undertaking a $5.1 million project to regild four bronze horse statues—The Arts of War and The Arts of Peace—located nearby at the Lincoln Memorial.
Trump updates progress on monument restoration
Highlighting a high-profile restoration project tied to a prominent federal monument, President Trump on Sunday, July 5, noted that all four 19-foot-tall statues are being restored for the first time in more than 50 years.
He further added that the work is underway using 55 pounds of gold leaf, before work moves to the two “Arts of Peace” sculptures.
“These four sculptures have not been regilded in over half a century. 55 pounds of gold leaf is being used in this effort,” he wrote.
“After ‘Sacrifice’ is regilded, regilding work will begin on the two Arts of Peace sculptures— Each of which is also 19-feet-tall, and on top of 12.5-feet-tall solid granite pedestals,” Trump added.
Each of the statues was sent as a gift to the US from Italy about 75 years ago.
Criticism over cost and contract process
The new regilding project is slated to cost $5.1 million and marks the latest million-dollar effort to renovate or update existing architecture in the nation’s capital.
This came after Interior Secretary Doug Burgum touted updates to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool a few months ago.
The administration granted a no-bid contract to a Maryland studio to apply 23.75-karat gold leaf, citing the company’s specialized skills.
Critics have raised concerns about the lack of competitive bidding and the high expense during a period of rising living costs.
The Interior Department has defended the decision, pointing to the contractor’s experience with similar work.
The gold restoration aligns with Trump’s broader approach of using high-profile renovations to leave a visible mark on Washington, DC.
Commentators note that such projects can serve as both legacy-building gestures and polarizing political statements. The regilding's timing, which coincides with the nation's 250th anniversary, adds to its symbolic impact.
