Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to move forward with the National Garden of American Heroes, a monument park dedicated to honoring some of the country’s most influential historical figures. Among those set to be memorialized are boxing legend Muhammad Ali and basketball icon Kobe Bryant, alongside other prominent Black Americans.
The announcement was made during a Black History Month ceremony at the White House, where Trump highlighted the significance of celebrating Black contributions to American history.
Describing the garden as a “statue park” that will pay tribute to hundreds of the greatest Americans, Trump emphasized that it will feature numerous Black historical figures. In addition to Ali and Bryant, he named influential figures such as Aretha Franklin, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglass, Billie Holiday, and Jackie Robinson.
While discussing Ali, Trump lightheartedly acknowledged the boxer’s unparalleled skills in the ring.
“Muhammad Ali, who was not a bad athlete. What do you think? Muhammad, not too bad,” Trump remarked, drawing laughter from the audience.
Although the initiative aims to honor Ali’s legacy, his widow, Lonnie Ali, expressed concerns that erecting a statue of him would go against his Islamic beliefs, which discourage idolizing individuals through statues or images.
“President Trump has been a longtime admirer of Muhammad, and I am pleased that admiration continues,” she stated.
“I appreciate the proposal to honor Muhammad along with other American heroes, but a statue would not align with his Islamic teachings. Still, I am grateful for the recognition of his life and humanitarian legacy.”
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The Muhammad Ali Center, based in Louisville, has previously taken a similar stance, choosing not to display a statue of the legendary boxer out of respect for his faith.
The National Garden of American Heroes was initially proposed by Trump in 2020, but the project was halted in 2021when President Joe Biden overturned the executive order. However, in January 2025, Trump reinstated the initiative, instructing that the project be completed “as expeditiously as possible.”
The final location for the garden has yet to be determined, but Trump noted that several states are competing to host it.
“It’s between various states that want it very badly,” he said, hinting that discussions were underway.
The memorial will ultimately feature 250 American heroes, cementing their legacies for future generations. Trump’s goal is to have the park completed before the country’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
While the project has drawn mixed reactions, it underscores an ongoing effort to recognize influential figures who have shaped American history—even as debates continue over how best to honor them.
