Trump Administration Moves to Restore Public Monuments as Debate Continues

Ryder Selmi, Strategy Director at Beck & Stone, recently weighed in on the contentious issue of historical monuments, stating in a tweet, "> This is the party that tore down statues of our Founders." His comment, posted on October 19, 2025, highlights an ongoing cultural and political debate surrounding the preservation and removal of public statues across the United States.

The discussion around historical monuments intensified significantly following the 2020 George Floyd protests, during which numerous statues, including those of Confederate figures and, in some instances, American Founding Fathers like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, were either vandalized or removed from public spaces. These actions sparked widespread debate about historical representation and racial justice.

Ryder Selmi, known for his "America First" and conservative political views, has frequently commented on cultural issues. His professional role as Strategy Director at Beck & Stone aligns with a perspective that often emphasizes traditional American values and historical preservation. His tweet reflects a segment of public opinion that views the removal of such statues as an attack on national heritage.

In a significant development earlier this year, on March 27, 2025, former President Donald Trump, following his reelection, signed an executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." This order instructed the Secretary of the Interior to identify and take action to reinstate public monuments, memorials, and statues that had been removed or altered since January 1, 2020. The National Park Service has since announced plans to restore and reinstall certain monuments, including the bronze statue of Confederate Army general Albert Pike in Washington, D.C., which was toppled in June 2020.

The executive order and subsequent restoration efforts underscore the deep political divisions over how American history should be publicly commemorated. While proponents argue for preserving historical figures and their contributions, critics maintain that many monuments glorify individuals associated with slavery and oppression, advocating for their removal or recontextualization. This ongoing tension continues to shape public discourse and policy regarding historical landmarks.