Tennessee Rep Requests Trump Addition to Mount Rushmore

Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN) has formally proposed adding President Donald Trump's likeness to Mount Rushmore, citing the president's recent legislative achievements and transformative impact on the nation. Ogles argues that Trump's leadership parallels the foundational presidents already honored on the monument—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln—by reshaping the presidency, pursuing bold reforms, and preserving the Union in a modern context. Central to Ogles's appeal is the passage of the "Big Beautiful Bill," a sweeping policy package that he claims marks a historic act justifying Trump's inclusion. Ogles has urged the Interior Department to conduct a feasibility study addressing the technical, legal, and cultural implications of modifying the monument, despite potential challenges including preservation concerns and the site's significance to the Lakota Sioux tribe. The Department of the Interior has yet to comment officially, but acknowledges reviewing congressional correspondence seriously. Critics and observers note the political and logistical complexities of such a proposal, with some questioning its appropriateness and timing.