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Trump's Freedom Plaza statue display could be coming down

Cuneyt Dil

Bronze equestrian statue of a rider on a galloping horse in a plaza, with green trees and a beige office building behind; other statues and a fence in sight. — The equestrian statue of Caesar Rodney, which was taken down in Delaware during BLM protests. Photo: Cuneyt Dil/Axios

The Trump administration's 13 bronze statue installation at Freedom Plaza appears to be nearing an end.

Why it matters: They're meant to honor Revolutionary War heroes, but the likeness of Caesar Rodney drew local backlash earlier this year. He's a founding father whose statue was removed in Delaware during 2020's Black Lives Matter protests because of his history as a slave owner.

The statues are a big presence, installed as part of America's 250th celebrations.

State of play: The statues were put in as a temporary installation, permitted for six months, according to Evan Cash, a D.C. representative on the National Capital Planning Commission. Cash briefly inquired when they'd be coming down at a meeting last Thursday.

"We're aware of the timeline," Tammy Stidham, an official with the National Parks Service, told the commission.
"I anticipate it'll be removed when the six months is over," she added.

What we're watching: It's unclear when exactly the clock may run out, because the statues started going up up in May, but a ribbon-cutting didn't take place until June 30.

The Interior Department didn't return an email seeking comment.

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Trump's Freedom Plaza statue display could be coming down

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