logo
Why Trump's National Garden of American Heroes is so controversial

Why Trump's National Garden of American Heroes is so controversial

Independent7 hours ago

South Dakota officials are pushing to establish Donald Trump 's proposed National Garden of American Heroes in the Black Hills, near Mount Rushmore.
The proposed site, a 40-acre donation from a mining company, has ignited significant opposition from Indigenous groups who consider the area sacred due to historical land disputes.
The Black Hills were recognised as belonging to the Sioux people by the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, but the land was later seized, leading to a 1980 Supreme Court ruling affirming the treaty violation.
Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier in 2025 to build the garden, which would feature 250 life-size statues of historical figures for the country's 250th birthday.
The US House has approved 40 million dollars for the project, overseen by the Department of Interior, but the Senate has not yet approved funding, and the project remains in the planning and discussion phase.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ukrainian lawmaker who nominated Trump for Nobel Peace Prize withdraws it after ceasefire talks stall
Ukrainian lawmaker who nominated Trump for Nobel Peace Prize withdraws it after ceasefire talks stall

The Independent

time13 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Ukrainian lawmaker who nominated Trump for Nobel Peace Prize withdraws it after ceasefire talks stall

A Ukrainian lawmaker who pushed for President Donald Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize has withdrawn his nomination after Russia - Ukraine ceasefire talks stalled. It's been more than three years since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Trump had promised to end the war within 24 hours of taking office, but it's been five months, and the two eastern European countries have not agreed to a peace deal. Oleksandr Merezhko, the head of Ukraine's parliamentary foreign committee, nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize last November, but told Newsweek Tuesday that he withdrew his nomination. Merezhko had "lost any sort of faith and belief" in Trump and his ability to get a ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine. While the warring countries agreed in principle to a limited ceasefire in March, no peace deal has been formally reached. Putin had rejected a 30-day ceasefire, which Trump had been advocating for, and Ukraine had agreed to. In June, Ukraine launched a massive drone attack on Russia and said it used over 100 smuggled drones to hit 41 military aircraft. Ukraine also blew up a section of the Kerch Bridge that connects Russia with the annexed Crimean Peninsula days later. Last week, Russia launched an overnight attack on Kyiv, killing 28 people and injuring over 100 more, The Associated Press reported, citing local officials. The Wall Street Journal reported in May, citing people familiar with the matter, that Trump was considering additional sanctions against Russia as he grew frustrated with Putin. At the time, Trump had posted to Truth Social: 'What Vladimir Putin doesn't realize is that if it weren't for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He's playing with fire!' Merezhko said Trump "is evading—he is dodging—the need to impose sanctions on Russia' and that he 'has chosen the path of appeasement.' Last week, Trump complained he can't win a Nobel Peace Prize as he works to broker peace around the world. The president took to Truth Social on Friday to celebrate a peace deal he claimed his administration brokered between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. 'This is a Great Day for Africa and, quite frankly, a Great Day for the World! I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize for this, I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize for stopping the War between India and Pakistan…No, I won't get a Nobel Peace Prize no matter what I do, including Russia/Ukraine, and Israel/Iran, whatever those outcomes may be, but the people know, and that's all that matters to me!' Pakistan announced its recommendation for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize on Saturday after he helped broker its truce with India following the fatal shooting of at least 26 tourists in Kashmir. Both South Asian countries have made claims to the territory in its entirety. Fewer than 24 hours after Pakistan praised Trump for the truce, it condemned him for the U.S. bombing of Iranian nuclear sites. The attack was the culmination of the Israel-Iran conflict that began on June 13. On Monday, Trump said Israel and Iran 'fully agreed' to 'a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE.' But it immediately broke down, with both sides accusing each other of violating the deal. Trump told reporters in Washington D.C., Tuesday morning, neither side 'knows what the f*** they're doing.'

128 Democrats cross the aisle and help Republicans block AOC-backed bid to impeach Trump over Iran strikes
128 Democrats cross the aisle and help Republicans block AOC-backed bid to impeach Trump over Iran strikes

The Independent

time13 minutes ago

  • The Independent

128 Democrats cross the aisle and help Republicans block AOC-backed bid to impeach Trump over Iran strikes

The bulk of the House Democratic caucus voted down an effort to launch impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump on Tuesday, joining a unified House GOP. Led by Rep. Al Green, dozens of House Democrats including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez voted on Tuesday in favor of beginning an impeachment inquiry into Trump's strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, a move which numerous Democrats as well as Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican, said was unconstitutional. But the majority of their caucus was against such a response to the announcement of U.S. involvement in Israel's war against Iran, which many Democrats have seemingly not been able to condemn outright. Many instead have attacked the president for the sudden nature of the strikes and lack of congressional oversight, shying away from total condemnation of the effort to knock out Iran's nuclear program at the same time. On Tuesday, the impeachment inquiry vote was defeated, with 128 Democrats joining all present House Republicans in voting it down. Lacking support from House or Senate Democratic leadership for the move, Ocasio-Cortez nevertheless floated the idea of filing articles of impeachment over the president's order to attack Iran on Saturday evening, minutes after the White House announced the U.S. airstrikes. 'He has impulsively risked launching a war that may ensnare us for generations. It is absolutely and clearly grounds for impeachment,' wrote the congresswoman. The tweet provoked a furious response from the president, who lashed out at Ocasio-Cortez and her party in a lengthy rant posted to Truth Social on Tuesday: 'Stupid AOC, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the 'dumbest' people in Congress, is now calling for my Impeachment.' 'Alexandria should go back home to Queens, where I was also brought up, and straighten out her filthy, disgusting, crime ridden streets, in the District she 'represents,' and which she never goes to anymore,' the president continued. The congresswoman fired back in her own pair of tweets, remarking in conclusion that 'I'm a Bronx girl. You should know that we can eat Queens boys for breakfast. Respectfully.' While Ocasio-Cortez has grown closer to party leadership during her time in Congress (after joining as an bomb-throwing freshman who ousted a top-ranking Democrat in a stunning primary upset), Tuesday's vote is emblematic of her status as a figure of the party's left-wing backbencher faction. It's the second time this year that progressives have brushed up against moderate members of leadership over the intensity of their opposition to Trump — the first occurring during the president address to a joint session of Congress this spring. The Bronx congresswoman was defeated in a bid to be the ranking Democrat on the Oversight Committee late last year, being passed up instead for the late Rep. Gerry Connolly. Supporters of the progressive firebrand argued that Connolly, stricken with cancer and in his 70s, lacked the energy and vigor to be a visible force of opposition to the president; he died in the position earlier this year. Ocasio-Cortez announced that she would not seek his position upon his death, commenting at the time that the party still valued seniority over other, more relevant qualifications.

He hurled the f-bomb like a heat-seeking missile. But, experts reveal, Trump's sneakily changed the course of history
He hurled the f-bomb like a heat-seeking missile. But, experts reveal, Trump's sneakily changed the course of history

Daily Mail​

time16 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

He hurled the f-bomb like a heat-seeking missile. But, experts reveal, Trump's sneakily changed the course of history

Donald Trump shattered another unwritten presidential rule as he became the first commander-in-chief to deliberately say 'f***' live on TV. Previous presidents have reserved such language for private tirades against incompetent cabinet secretaries and obstinate generals, or perhaps while venting to the first lady in the privacy of the East Wing.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store