US Donald Trump’s Mount Rushmore Dream Meets Reality Check

Trump’s Presidential Ambition

July 05, 2025: Former President Donald Trump has reignited his longstanding aspiration to have his likeness carven into Mount Rushmore, following a 2020 visit where South Dakota’s governor gifted him a mock bust featuring his face among the existing presidents. Recently, a bill introduced in the House proposed making this a reality.

Expert Warnings: “Reality of the Rock”

But experts aren’t on board. Dan Wenk, former superintendent of the memorial, compared altering Mount Rushmore to adding a head to da Vinci’s Last Supper—a sacred piece of national art that shouldn’t be modified. Construction records and geological evaluations confirm the rock is fractured, unstable, and structurally unsuited for another carving.

No Room—and No Feasibility

The National Park Service confirms there’s no viable space left on the monument for another face. Even the sculptor Gutzon Borglum revised his vision nine times due to weak granite. Engineers warn that defacing the rock would jeopardize the current presidential sculptures.

Artistic Integrity vs. Political Legacy

While Republican allies argue Trump’s achievements deserve lasting recognition, altering the monument would fundamentally change both its artistic intent and historical narrative. Mount Rushmore was designed to reflect America’s first 150 years, not evolving political eras.

Final Word

Trump’s Mount Rushmore proposal reveals as much about cultural symbolism as geological barriers. While supporters see it as the ultimate honor, specialists emphasize that the rock—and the monument’s legacy—can’t withstand such an addition.