‘Your favorite president’: Trump personally calls sculptor over Rose Garden statue

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump personally called sculptor George Lundeen to thank him for a Jefferson statue at the White House, opening the voicemail by calling himself Lundeen’s “favorite president.”

The bronze statue depicts Thomas Jefferson signing the Declaration of Independence and was given to Trump for display in the Rose Garden.

Trump chose the spot after seeing photographs of the sculpture, according to the Independent report published Saturday, August 22.

Trump personally thanked the sculptor

Lundeen made the Jefferson sculpture decades ago and kept it at his ranch before deciding to send it to the White House for the July Fourth celebrations marking America’s 250th birthday, the outlet reported.

The statue did not arrive in time, with Lundeen’s friend and collaborator Steven Barber saying it was stuck on a truck partly because of heavy security around the celebrations, it stated.

“Hi, George. It’s your favorite president, Donald Trump, and I just wanted to thank you,” Trump said in the message, which Lundeen shared with a news agency, as per the outlet.  

He added that the sculpture looked “really beautiful” and said the White House had “a wonderful place right in the Rose Garden.”

Lundeen said he had hoped the statue would give people a chance to see Jefferson as he was writing the Declaration of Independence.

“I thought it would just be a real nice thing on the 250th for people to look at Thomas Jefferson as he was writing the Declaration of Independence,” Lundeen said.

Rose Garden now has several statues

The Jefferson statue is not alone on the patio. It joins sculptures of George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Ben Franklin, while a fifth work, “Freedom’s Charge,” also stands there.

The White House said Washington’s statue was lent by Harlan Crow, while the Franklin and Hamilton sculptures came from anonymous donors. 

“Freedom’s Charge,” a 14-foot bronze depicting two Revolutionary War soldiers separated by a flag, was moved from Dallas.

White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said Trump’s preference for statues was part of his approach to the White House grounds, according to the outlet.

“From restoring our treasured landmarks, which had suffered years of abuse and vandalism, to cleaning our parks and the Reflecting Pool, President Trump’s bold vision ensured that America rang in its 250th birthday celebration with glory and pride,” Ingle said.

Ingle also said Trump was continuing to make “long-overdue and necessary” renovations to the White House.

“Thanks to the Builder-in-Chief, the White House will be properly glorified and remain in excellent condition for generations to come,” Ingle said.

Trump’s statue plans extend beyond the garden

Trump’s interest in sculptures reaches beyond the Rose Garden. 

A statue of Christopher Columbus was installed next door at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in March, while the National Park Service recently installed Revolutionary-era sculptures at a plaza near the White House, as per the report.

Trump also plans a National Garden of American Heroes near the National Mall, featuring sculptures of 250 Americans who made significant cultural, political and historical contributions to the United States.

Several preservation and cultural heritage organizations have sued to block that project, arguing that Congress must first authorize it.

Barber said he and Lundeen are “in the mix” to make statues for the planned garden as well, as per the report.