Donald Trump pledges Kobe Bryant statue in National Garden of American Heroes during latest announcement

In a significant announcement during a Black History Monthceremony at the White House, President Donald Trump shared that he will honor American icons in the National Garden of American Heroes. Among those to be memorialized are the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant and boxing great Muhammad Ali. The initiative aims to pay tribute to historical figures from various backgrounds, celebrating their legacy on American culture and society.

The National Garden of American Heroes would be a space dedicated to preserving the legacies of some of the most influential figures in U.S. history. Trump’s latest announcement confirms that Kobe Bryant, a five-time NBA champion and Lakers legend, will be among those honored. The basketball star, who tragically passed away in 2020, will be immortalized alongside civil rights leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Muhammad Ali, Frederick Douglass, and baseball legend Jackie Robinson.
“Under the executive order I signed last month, this new beautiful outdoor statue park, it's going to be a statue park. It's going to be unbelievable,” Trump said in his announcement.
The final spot is yet to be decided, “We're picking the final sites now. It's between various states that want it very badly.” He further shared, “We'll honor hundreds of our greatest Americans to ever live, including countless black American icons. The garden will predominantly feature incredible women like Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin. And Coretta Scott King. And I will showcase extraordinary.”

The POUTS went on to add, “It will be uh something very extraordinary. It's gonna be producing, we're going to produce some of the most beautiful works of art in the form of a statue for men like Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Jackie, Jackie Robinson, what a great athlete that was Martin Luther King Jr. Mohammad Ali, he's not a bad athlete. What do you think, Mohammed? Not, not too bad. And the late Kobe Bryant. People love Kobe Bryant.”
Trump’s announcement was made during a celebratory reception attended by a range of political figures, athletes, and entertainers. Republican Sen. Tim Scott, Republican Rep. John James, and civil rights activist Alveda King were present at the event, alongside former football star Herschel Walker and prison reform advocate Alice Johnson.
Golf icon Tiger Woods was also in attendance, with Trump jokingly remarking that Woods’ statue would be "saved for another time."
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The National Garden of American Heroes is intended to serve as a lasting tribute to individuals who have left a significant mark on history. While the project remains in the planning stages, Trump has already signed the executive order and the park is expected to be inaugurated soon. So far, the news of Trump honoring the American legends gets wide reception, among those includes UFC CEO Dana White and Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker.