Trump’s Department of the Interior is putting on a patriotic display at Freedom Plaza

FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump’s Department of the Interior has unveiled a new patriotic installation at Freedom Plaza in downtown Washington, DC, placing Revolutionary War figures in an area long associated with protests and camping.

“This exhibit featuring Caesar Rodney and 12 Revolutionary War soldiers is a powerful tribute to the patriots whose work and sacrifice helped secure the freedoms we enjoy today,” Department of the Interior (DOI) Secretary Doug Burgum told Fox News Digital.

The installation is accompanied by a portrait of founder Caesar Rodney with 12 Revolutionary War soldiers, honoring the patriots whose sacrifices helped found the nation. Freedom Plaza has often been the site of political protests, including when it was known as “tent city” during economic protests in 2011 and more recently as a rallying point for protests in the violent summer of 2020, when riots broke out in cities nationwide following the death of George Floyd.

“As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this exhibition is one of the many ways that President Donald J. Trump is making sure that the stories of the men and women who built this nation are preserved, honored and shared with future generations,” said Burgum. “Our history is one of courage, opportunity and difference, and this exhibit helps bring that legacy to life for all Americans.”

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Caesar Rodney is best known for his overnight ride from Delaware to Philadelphia in July 1776, traveling nearly 80 miles in a storm to cross the barrier between the Delaware fleet. His vote helped garner unanimous support among the colonies who voted for independence.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, Freedom Plaza will provide visitors with a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the courage and sacrifice of Americans who fought to protect our freedoms nearly 250 years ago,” DOI chief Matthew Middleton told Fox News Digital.

12 other soldiers are represented: 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 exhibit’s installation. (Ministry of Interior)

During the 2020 protests, a statue of Rodney in Wilmington was removed as memorial debates about historical figures linked to slavery intensified. The statue was moved to Freedom Plaza to celebrate America’s 250th birthday.

Freedom Plaza has a controversial history as the center of political protests in the nation’s capital.

Occupy DC protestors staged a standoff at Freedom Plaza in October 2011, one of two major federal-property protest sites in the city, which sparked several battles with the National Park Service.

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It was a rallying point during the 2020 George Floyd protests, with activists gathering there before marching through the city’s streets. Riots and riots in Washington centered around the landmark Lafayette Square and the “Black Lives Matter Plaza,” which DC began tearing down in March 2025.

In 2020, protests took place in downtown DC outside the White House’s North Lawn, which includes the Freedom Plaza and BLM Plaza areas.

Mayor Muriel Bowser renamed a section of 16th Street “Black Lives Matter Plaza”.

Freedom Plaza was first established in 1980 and originally named Western Plaza, the area was renamed in 1988 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. It used to serve as a homeless encampment until the recent government crackdown under the Trump administration.

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The plaza will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the exhibit’s installation, Fox News Digital has learned.