Trump’s New Executive Order to Restore Confederate Statues Has Social Media Divided

Between the executive orders and constant government updates, it’s been hard for most Americans to keep up with the news. But President Trump‘s executive order to restore Confederate statues just went into effect, causing major online conversations, so you may want to listen up on this one.

Recently, President Trump has been calling for all monuments that were removed or altered since 2020 to be reinstated. In March 2025, Trump issued an executive order instructing Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to review all public monuments, memorials, statues, and similar properties that had been taken down. The order stated that some removals aimed to “perpetuate a false reconstruction of American history” or “minimize the value of certain historical events or figures.” 

So, which statute was the first to reappear? None other than the statue of Confederate General Albert Pike. It was refurbished by the National Park Service (NPS) and reinstalled in Washington, D.C. this past weekend, and it’s raising plenty of eyebrows. 

“The restoration aligns with federal responsibilities under historic-preservation law and recent executive orders to beautify the nation’s capital and restore pre-existing statues,” the National Park Service said in an issued statement. 

To many, this move was definitely a head-turner, as the Albert Pike statute has long stood as a symbol of controversy. Pike served as a Confederate general and was also an alleged former leader in the Ku Klux Klan and a slave owner. Because of his background, this led people to believe his statue had no place in the nation’s capital. 

Back in 2020, during the nationwide demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd,  protesters tied ropes around the statue in Judiciary Square, pulled it down from its pedestal, spray-painted it, and set it on fire. The moment became a turning point in the national movement to remove monuments honoring Confederate figures.

After the statute was taken down, Trump lashed out, tweeting:

Now, his latest actions appear to double down on his efforts to roll back the denouncement of Confederate leaders and their ties to slavery. Over the summer, Trump also restored the names of nine Army bases that once honored Confederate generals.  

Social media has been quick to weigh in on the reinstatement.

“It needs a bronze plaque: ‘Installed by the Trump regime because they honor traitors to America’,” one X user wrote. 

“Of all the statues, this is the one that deserves to stay down,” another user posted. 

A third summed it up, saying: 

While many expressed disbelief at the statue’s return, others supported its reinstatement.

“History should not be erased, no matter how uncomfortable,” one user posted.

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