President Donald Trump gave Americans their first look at the newly restored Arts of War statues in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, sharing photos on Truth Social as crews removed months of scaffolding surrounding the iconic golden horse sculptures near the Lincoln Memorial.
The four massive bronze horse statues, which flank the eastern entrance to Arlington Memorial Bridge, have undergone an extensive restoration and regilding project overseen by the National Park Service.
Trump celebrated the milestone by posting, “Taking down the scaffolding around the regilded Arts of War sculptures!” alongside images showing workers dismantling the temporary structures.
The restoration marks the first time in roughly 50 years that the statues have been regilded. The project includes cleaning and repairing the bronze sculptures, applying a fresh layer of nearly pure gold leaf, and restoring the surrounding granite pedestals, which had developed staining and deterioration over decades.
The Arts of War sculptures, along with the nearby Arts of Peace monuments, were installed in the early 1950s and have become some of Washington’s most recognizable memorial features. Positioned just west of the Lincoln Memorial, the monuments serve as the ceremonial gateway to Arlington Memorial Bridge leading toward Arlington National Cemetery.
According to the National Park Service, portions of the surrounding lawns and parkland remain temporarily closed while crews finish the broader rehabilitation project. Sidewalks and access to Arlington Memorial Bridge remain open, and officials expect construction-related restrictions to continue through Sept. 30, although areas could reopen sooner if work is completed ahead of schedule.
The restoration is part of a larger federal effort to prepare Washington, D.C., for events surrounding America’s 250th anniversary in 2026. Earlier reporting indicated the National Park Service awarded a nearly $5 million contract for the regilding work, which includes applying approximately 23.75-karat gold leaf to the sculptures.
The project has drawn attention both for the dramatic visual transformation and for its cost.
For months, the towering horse statues were almost entirely hidden behind scaffolding, tarps and fencing, leaving visitors unable to view the monuments.
Trump’s newly shared photos, along with video captured as workers removed the final sections of scaffolding, provide one of the clearest looks yet at the gleaming restored sculptures as they return to public view.
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