Trump’s Interior Dept. installs patriotic exhibit at Freedom Plaza
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FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump’s Interior Department unveiled a new patriotic installation at Freedom Plaza in downtown Washington, D.C., featuring Revolutionary War figures in a space long associated with protests and encampments.
“This exhibit featuring Caesar Rodney and the 12 Soldiers of the Revolutionary War is a powerful tribute to the patriots whose service and sacrifice helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today,” Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox News Digital.
The installation combines a statue of founding father Caesar Rodney with 12 bronze Revolutionary War soldiers and honors the patriots whose sacrifices helped found the nation. Freedom Plaza has been the scene of frequent political protests, including when it was dubbed a “tent city” during economic protests in 2011 and, most recently, as a staging ground for protests during the violent summer of 2020, when riots broke out in cities across the country following the death of George Floyd.
“As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this exhibit is one of the many ways President Donald J. Trump is ensuring that the stories of the men and women who built this country are preserved, honored and shared for generations to come,” Burgum said. “Our history is one of courage, opportunity, and exceptionalism, and this exhibit helps bring that legacy to life for all Americans.”
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“This exhibit featuring Caesar Rodney and the 12 Soldiers of the Revolutionary War is a powerful tribute to the patriots whose service and sacrifice helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today,” said Secretary Burgum. (Ministry of the Interior)
Caesar Rodney is known for his overnight journey from Delaware to Philadelphia in July 1776; He traveled nearly 80 miles through a storm to break the deadlock in the Delaware delegation. His vote helped ensure unanimous support among the colonies that voted for independence.
“Led by President Trump, Freedom Plaza will provide visitors with a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the courage and sacrifice of Americans who fought to secure our independence nearly 250 years ago,” DOI official Matthew Middleton told Fox News Digital.
The other 12 soldiers represented are: Simon Knowles, Caesar Glover, Joseph Warren, Jude Hall, Peter Muhlenberg, James Armistead Lafayette, Samuel Whittemore, Jack Sisson, James Caldwell, Peter Salem, Naphtali Daggett, and Salem Poor.
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The Plaza will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the installation of the exhibit. (Ministry of the Interior)
During the 2020 protests, the Rodney statue in Wilmington was removed as debates about monuments to historical figures with ties to slavery intensified. The statue was moved to Liberty Plaza to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.
Freedom Plaza has a storied history as the center of political protests in the nation’s capital.
Occupy DC demonstrators organized in October 2011 at Freedom Plaza, one of two major federally owned protest sites in the city, sparking several clashes with the National Park Service.
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It became a meeting point during the 2020 George Floyd protests, where activists gathered here before marching through the city’s streets. Riots and unrest in Washington were concentrated near the separate Lafayette Square and later “Black Lives Matter Plaza,” which DC began demolishing in March 2025.
In 2020, demonstrations spilled over into downtown DC, beyond the North Lawn of the White House to include areas of Liberty Plaza and BLM Plaza.
Mayor Muriel Bowser renamed a section of 16th Street “Black Lives Matter Plaza.”
Freedom Plaza was first established in 1980 and was originally called Western Plaza. The site was founded in 1988 by Martin Luther King Jr. was renamed in his honour. It frequently served as an encampment for homeless people until recent federal crackdowns under the Trump administration.
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According to information obtained by Fox News Digital, the plaza will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the installation of the exhibit.
