Trump Says Scaffolding Comes Off Regilded Arts of War Sculptures
Trump announces workers are removing scaffolding from the freshly gilded Arts of War statues, revealing bright gold surfaces at a memorial park near a waterway.
WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald J. Trump said workers are removing the scaffolding around the freshly regilded Arts of War sculptures, revealing bright gold surfaces at a memorial park.
The announcement, delivered in a short post accompanied by photographs, showed a gilded equestrian statue enclosed by metal scaffolding as crews worked at multiple heights.
“Taking down the scaffolding around the regilded Arts of War sculptures!” Trump said in the post.
The images signal that a restoration effort has reached its final stage, exposing the reflective gold finish that crews applied during the project.
Here is the full post on truthsocial: “Taking down the scaffolding around the regilded Arts of War sculptures!” on July 27, 2026 at 7:30 PM ET.
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The photographs show construction workers in hard hats and high-visibility vests positioned on wooden planking, with a bright gold horse-and-rider figure partially wrapped in protective covering. Trees, a body of water and a distant city skyline appear behind the scaffolding, consistent with a memorial setting near a waterway.
Construction workers remove scaffolding from the regilded Arts of War sculptures at a memorial park in Washington D.C. on 07/27/2026.
© copyright Zenger.News
Regilding public statuary is a labor-intensive process that involves stripping weathered surfaces, applying fresh gold leaf and sealing the finish against the elements. Crews typically enclose a monument in scaffolding for the duration of the work, then dismantle the structure once the surface has cured. The removal of scaffolding marks the visible completion of such projects.
Restoration of gilded monuments carries stakes for the public agencies that maintain them, the contractors hired to perform the work and the visitors who use the surrounding park. A successful regilding preserves a monument for decades, while a rushed or poorly executed job can require costly rework. The bright finish visible in the photographs suggests the surface treatment is complete.
Gilded public monuments have been restored before in cities across the United States, from war memorials to statehouse domes. Such projects recur every few decades as gold leaf weathers and dulls, prompting new rounds of scaffolding and restoration. The current work fits that long-running pattern of periodic maintenance for outdoor gilded sculpture.
For the average reader, the development means a familiar landmark will soon reappear without scaffolding, restored to its original shine. Park visitors and commuters who pass the site will see the finished monument rather than a work zone.
Who makes the next call on the project and when the scaffolding will be fully cleared was not stated in the post. A specific completion date has not been announced.
Gilding monuments in gold is a practice that stretches back centuries, as happened before with domes, statues and public art around the world. The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, completed in 691, was later covered in gold-colored anodized aluminum in a 1990s restoration, according to britannica.com. The dome of the Massachusetts State House in Boston, first built in 1798, was gilded with gold leaf in 1874 and has been regilded several times since, according to britannica.com. Each restoration returned a weathered landmark to the gleaming appearance its builders intended.
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