RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – The City of Presidents welcomed the newest bronze statue of President Donald J. Trump.
The City of Presidents project began in 2000 to line the downtown Rapid City streets with each president to ever sit in office.
In the privately funded nonpartisan art projects 25th year, the statue being unveiled is the current sitting president.
“Now most statues are history. This one feels more like current events,” said South Dakota Rep. Dusty Johnson who gave a speech and sent a video message to the president before the statue was unveiled.
In addition to Johnson, Richard Perdue, son of the founder of the City of Presidents project, Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun; and the artist behind the statue, Jim Maher, spoke to the audience.
This isn’t Maher’s first time adding to the trail of history as he has contributed 12 other presidents including Ronald Reagan, Herbert Hoover and George W. Bush.
“I grew up in Rapid City, so it’s great to be a part of the town that way,” Maher said. “It’s wonderful to see people come downtown and tour around the presidents and enjoy them. As an artist, that’s one of the best things, one of the biggest rewards you can get is having somebody have a piece of work you’ve done mean something to somebody.”
Maher said he had to take some time to decide on if he would be the artist for Trump’s statue.
“Like I said in my remarks, I have kind of a moderate view of it,” Maher explained. “I appreciate some of the things he’s done, but I’m not crazy about him like some people are so I thought I could do a good job, a fair job.”
While those in attendance of the unveiling had positive reactions, a protest was taking place at Main Street Square in opposition.
Trump’s statue, and all other City of President statues moving forward, will be housed at the Rapid City Visitor Center for the summer season beginning this year on Monday, May 5.
The statue will move to its permanent location on the corner of 6th and St. Joseph streets in the fall.
No official announcement has been made as to when former President Joe Biden will receive his bronze statue, but Maher confirmed he will also be doing the piece.