Trump Announces National Garden of American Heroes: Tubman, Parks, Ali, Kobe; Sec Wright: “Drill, Baby, Drill”

During a Black History Month event at the White House in February 2025, President Trump unveiled plans for a National Garden of American Heroes featuring statues of African-American icons including Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Coretta Scott King, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Jackie Robinson, Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali, and Kobe Bryant. Trump emphasized that these figures were honored “not simply because they’re black heroes, but also because they are truly American heroes who inspire all of us.” The event also featured remarks from David Harris Jr., who told Trump “God has chosen you,” the recognition of seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright denouncing Biden-era energy regulations that he said made appliances “cost more and work worse.”

The National Garden: “Some of the Most Beautiful Works of Art”

Trump described the outdoor statue park with evident enthusiasm, revealing that the project was in its final site-selection phase.

“Under the executive order I signed last month, this new beautiful outdoor statue park — it’s going to be a statue park, it’s going to be unbelievable,” Trump said. “We’re picking the final sites now. It’s between various states that wanted very badly.”

He outlined the scope: “We’ll honor hundreds of our greatest Americans to ever live, including countless Black American icons.”

Trump then began naming the specific figures who would be represented, beginning with women. “The garden will predominantly feature incredible women like Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, and Coretta Scott King,” he said.

He continued with the men: “It’s going to be producing some of the most beautiful works of art in the form of a statue for men like Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Jackie Robinson — what a great athlete — Martin Luther King Jr., Muhammad Ali — he’s not a bad athlete, what do you think? Not too bad — and the late Kobe Bryant. People love Kobe Bryant.”

The list was notable for its breadth, spanning the full range of African-American achievement: abolitionists (Tubman, Douglass), civil rights leaders (Parks, King, Coretta Scott King), artists (Holiday, Franklin), athletes (Robinson, Ali, Bryant), and educators (Washington). By including figures from every era of American history and every field of endeavor, Trump was presenting a vision of Black history that celebrated excellence across all domains rather than limiting the narrative to any single theme.

Trump added a lighthearted touch regarding Tiger Woods, who had appeared at the previous day’s event: “And we’re going to save Tiger Woods for another time. That’s all that I can — I’m sorry."

"Truly American Heroes”

Trump framed the Garden in terms consistent with his broader “1776 not 1619” message. “During Black History Month, we pay tribute to these heroes and to so many others,” he said. “But not simply because they’re black heroes, but also because they are truly American heroes who inspire all of us, very much so.”

The distinction was deliberate. The Trump administration’s approach to racial history emphasized inclusion within the larger American story rather than separation from it. Harriet Tubman was not just a Black hero; she was an American hero. Jackie Robinson was not just a breakthrough for Black athletes; he was a symbol of American courage. The Garden would honor their Blackness and their Americanness simultaneously, presenting both as inseparable elements of a shared national heritage.

The National Garden of American Heroes had been first proposed during Trump’s first term, when he signed an executive order establishing it in July 2020. The project had stalled under the Biden administration, and Trump’s revival of it — with specific names announced at a Black History Month event — served as both a policy accomplishment and a cultural statement.

David Harris Jr.: “God Has Chosen You”

Community leader David Harris Jr. delivered deeply personal remarks that connected Trump’s presidency to a spiritual mission.

“I know God has chosen you. He anointed you for this position,” Harris said. “He kept you alive so you could be here today.”

The reference to being “kept alive” was an unmistakable allusion to the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt at the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally. Harris was framing Trump’s survival not as luck or coincidence but as divine providence — a narrative that resonated deeply with the evangelical community and with many Black churchgoers who shared the spiritual framework.

“We prayed for that. We pray for you. We continue to pray for you, and we’re thankful for your service and your sacrifice,” Harris continued. “Mr. President Donald J. Trump, honor. God bless you.”

The remarks illustrated a dimension of Trump’s support among Black Americans that was often overlooked in media coverage: the spiritual connection that many Black pastors and community leaders felt with a president they viewed as divinely appointed and miraculously preserved.

Phil Heath: “I Don’t Want to Compare My Muscles”

In a lighter moment, Trump recognized Phil Heath, the seven-time Mr. Olympia champion, who was in attendance.

“We’re also joined by seven-time Mr. Olympia — I want to see this guy — Phil Heath,” Trump said. “Where’s Phil? Phil Heath.” He added with characteristic humor: “I want to compare my muscles.”

The crowd reacted with laughter as Heath stood to acknowledge the recognition. “Thank you, Phil. Very much. I appreciate it,” Trump said.

The inclusion of Heath at the event, alongside the announcement that Kobe Bryant and Muhammad Ali would be featured in the Garden, reinforced the celebration of Black excellence in athletics — a theme that Trump had embraced by welcoming Tiger Woods the day before and by frequently praising the achievements of Black athletes during his public remarks.

Energy Secretary Wright: “Costs More and Works Worse”

Energy Secretary Chris Wright then delivered a compact but devastating critique of Biden-era energy and appliance regulations, connecting them to the kitchen tables and laundry rooms of everyday Americans.

Wright began with the macro picture: “We’ve seen 30% rise in electricity prices just in the previous administration. During President Trump’s first term, almost no change in national average electricity prices. All of a sudden, a huge rise in electricity prices, rising gasoline, rising energy across the board.”

He then described the Biden administration’s response to rising energy costs as counterproductive. “The United States is the dominant producer of natural gas, and we have a booming industry exporting natural gas to our allies around the world. Well, let’s stop that. Let’s ban new permitting of LNG export terminals,” Wright said sarcastically.

The most relatable portion of Wright’s remarks focused on household appliances. “A whole bunch of regulations were rolled out to limit your ability to buy the appliances you want,” he said. “You may want to buy that appliance, but the new appliance you’re allowed to buy costs more and works worse.”

Wright offered personal examples that resonated with anyone who had experienced the frustration of modern energy-efficient appliances. “My dishwasher has to run for two hours now, and at the end I got to clean the dishes,” he said. “My clothes dryer works at half the power. In theory, this is saving energy. It just takes twice as long to dry our clothes.”

He concluded with the administration’s counter-approach: “President Trump came in and he is strong and he is bold and he gets energy. His goal was, we’re going to bring back common sense. So what’s the plan? Drill, baby, drill — and build, baby, build.”

The two-part slogan — “drill, baby, drill and build, baby, build” — captured the administration’s dual energy strategy: increase production to lower costs and build the infrastructure (pipelines, export terminals, power plants) needed to deliver that energy to consumers and allies.

Key Takeaways

• Trump announced the National Garden of American Heroes will feature statues of Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, Coretta Scott King, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, Jackie Robinson, MLK Jr., Muhammad Ali, and Kobe Bryant.
• He emphasized the honorees were celebrated “not simply because they’re black heroes, but also because they are truly American heroes who inspire all of us.”
• David Harris Jr. told Trump “God has chosen you. He anointed you for this position. He kept you alive so you could be here today,” referencing the Butler assassination attempt.
• Seven-time Mr. Olympia Phil Heath was recognized, with Trump joking: “I want to compare my muscles.”
• Energy Secretary Wright denounced Biden-era appliance regulations that made products “cost more and work worse” and summarized the plan: “Drill, baby, drill — and build, baby, build.”