Tue Jul 08 00:30:00 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Rep. Ogles Pushes for Trump on Mount Rushmore, Cites “Transformative” Presidency**

Washington D.C. – Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) is urging the Department of the Interior to explore adding President Donald Trump’s likeness to Mount Rushmore. In a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Ogles cited Trump’s “scale and scope of recent achievements,” highlighting a recently passed domestic policy bill and border security efforts.

“The legacy of Mount Rushmore cannot remain frozen in stone; it must evolve to reflect the full arc of American history, including its most recent and transformative chapter,” Ogles stated on X.

The Interior Department acknowledged the correspondence but did not comment on the proposal. Ogles is requesting a feasibility study to address technical, legal, and cultural concerns.

The idea has already drawn criticism due to the monument’s location on sacred Lakota Sioux tribal land.

According to a 2020 statement from Mount Rushmore National Memorial Chief of Interpretation and Education Maureen McGee-Ballinger, the surrounding rock is unsuitable for additional carving and could destabilize the existing monument. She referenced studies conducted by the National Park Service (NPS) and rock mechanics engineering firm RESPEC. NPS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) has proposed legislation to mandate the carving of Trump’s image, though it has not yet been brought up for a hearing.

While Trump has publicly acknowledged the potential for negative press surrounding such a move, he has privately expressed interest in being added to the monument. Former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recounted a 2018 Oval Office conversation where Trump stated his “dream” was to be immortalized on Mount Rushmore.

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