Trump places statue of Christopher Columbus near the White House

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A statue of Christopher Columbus has been placed on the grounds of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House, the latest effort by President Donald Trump's administration to recognize the controversial explorer.

Trump Columbus Statue

The statue isa replicaof one that was tossed into Baltimore's harbor in 2020 during Trump's first term at a time of nationwide protests against institutional racism.

Trump endorses a traditional view of Columbus as a leader of the 1492 mission seen as the unofficial beginning of European colonization in the Americas and the development of the modern economic and political order. But in recent years, Columbus also has been recognized as a primary example of Western Europe's conquest of the New World, its resources and its native people.

"In this White House, Christopher Columbus is a hero, and President Trump will ensure he's honored as such for generations to come," the White House posted on X.

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"We are delighted the statue has found a place where it can peacefully shine and be protected," said John Pica, a Maryland lobbyist and president of the Italian American Organizations United, which owns the statue and agreed to loan it to the federal government for placement at or near the White House.

The statue, made mostly of marble, was created by Will Hemsley, a sculptor based in Centreville on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

The original statue was toppled by protesters on July 4, 2020, and thrown into Baltimore's Inner Harbor after anger boiled over following thedeath of George Floydat the hands of police. It was one of many statues of Columbus that were vandalized around the same time, with protesters saying the Italian explorer was responsible for the genocide and exploitation of native peoples in the Americas.

In recent years, some people, institutions and government entities have displaced Columbus Day with recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day. President Joe Biden in 2021 became thefirst U.S. president to markIndigenous Peoples Day with a proclamation.

Trump dismisses the shift on Columbus as "left-wing arsonists" bending history and twisting Americans' collective memory. "I'm bringing Columbus Day back from the ashes.,"he declared last April. Echoing his 2024 campaign rhetoric, he complained that "Democrats did everything possible to destroy Christopher Columbus, his reputation, and all of the Italians that love him so much."

byCosmopolite

in

March 22, 2026

Trump places statue of Christopher Columbus near the White House

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A statue of Christopher Columbus has been placed on the grounds of the Eisenhower Executive Office ...

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White House installs statue of Christopher Columbus on its grounds

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON, March 22 (Reuters) - The White House has installed on its grounds a statue of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus in the ‌latest bid by President Donald Trump's administration to reshape depictions of U.S. ‌history and culture.

The campaign against an ideology Trump calls "anti-American" has encompassed the dismantling of slavery exhibits, restoration ​of Confederate statues and other moves that civil rights advocates say could reverse decades of social progress.

"The statue is now residing on the north side of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus," Trump told the Conference of Presidents ‌of Major Italian American Organizations ⁠in a letter on Sunday.

He thanked the group for its gift of the statue to the government.

During the 2020 Black Lives ⁠Matter protests after the killing of George Floyd, several U.S. cities took down statues of the Italian navigator, whose Spanish-funded voyages from the 1490s onward paved the way for ​Europe's conquests ​of the Americas.

Floyd's killing led to a ​worldwide re-examination of the colonial ‌era and the legacy of slavery.

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Protesters for racial equality challenged heroic portrayals of Columbus, saying they downplayed or ignored his cruelty toward indigenous people of the Americas.

Trump called Columbus "the original American hero and one of the most gallant and visionary men to ever walk the face of the Earth," in the letter made public on ‌Sunday.

The statue at the White House is a ​reconstruction of one unveiled by late President Ronald ​Reagan in Baltimore in 1984.

In ​2020, that statue was dumped into the city's harbor by protesters ‌whom Trump called "anti-American rioters" in his ​letter.

Last week, the Interior ​Department said a statue of Caesar Rodney, an enslaver and signer of the Declaration of Independence, will be displayed in Washington after it was ​taken down amid racial justice ‌protests in Delaware in 2020.

A statue of Confederate General Albert Pike, overturned ​during 2020 protests, was reinstalled last year in Washington.

(Reporting by Kanishka ​Singh in Washington; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

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March 22, 2026

White House installs statue of Christopher Columbus on its grounds

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Fentanyl found inside Barbies sold at Missouri discount store, police say

Fentanyl was found inside Barbie doll packages being sold at a discount store in Missouri, police said on Saturday.

The Independence Police Department said in asocial media postthat they were contacted by security at Cargo Largo, a local discount store, after finding a suspicious powder substance in the packaging of a Barbie doll.

Tests determined the substance was fentanyl.

Police officers worked with Cargo Largo and determined that five contaminated Barbie packages had been sold. Hours later, all five packages had been recovered, police said.

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"There is no reason to believe compromised units were sent to other retailers and no injuries have been reported," police said, adding the investigation is ongoing.

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Who's in Women's Sweet 16? Updated NCAA Tournament bracket, schedule

The women's Sweet 16 is nearly here! However, each team still has one game to win before it can reach that critical juncture.

The Round of 32 began earlier Sunday with North Carolina vs. Maryland, a showdown that certainly lived up to the hype. It likely won't be the last in this round to do so, though. With 16 games, there's bound to be a few instant classics.

Here are the full results and remaining schedule the second round of the Women's NCAA Tournament:

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A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

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See best of March Madness 2026, from mascots and fans to celebrities

A Texas Christian University Horned Frogs cheerleader practices before the game during a first round game of the men's2026 NCAATournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 19, 2026 in Greenville, SC.

Who's in women's Sweet 16? Updates March Madness bracket

• No. 4 North Carolina (Fort Worth Region 1)

• No. 2 Michigan (Forth Worth Region 3)

• No. 4 Minnesota (Sacramento Region 2)

Women's Sweet 16 schedule, Sweet 16 locations

This section will be updated. All times Eastern.

The regional semifinals will take place on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 in Fort Worth, Texas and Sacramento, Calif.

Women's March Madness bracket update

*All times Eastern (ET)

Regional 1 - Forth Worth

• No. 1 UConn vs. No. 9 Syracuse; Monday, March 23, 6 p.m. on ESPN

• No. 4 North Carolina 74, No. 5 Maryland 66

• No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 6 Notre Dame; Monday, March 23, 4 p.m. on ESPN

• No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 7 Illinois; Monday, March 23, 7 p.m. on ESPN2

Regional 4 - Sacramento

• No. 1 South Carolina vs. No. 9 USC; Monday, March 23, 8 p.m. on ESPN

• No. 4 Oklahoma vs. No. 5 Michigan State; Sunday, March 22, 8 p.m. on ESPN

• No. 3 TCU vs. No. 6 Washington; Sunday, March 22, 10 p.m. on ESPN

• No. 2 Iowa vs. No. 10 Virginia; March 23, 2 p.m. on ESPN

Regional 2 - Sacramento

• No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 8 Oklahoma State; Monday, March 23, 10 p.m. on ESPN

• No. 4 Minnesota 64, No. 5 Ole Miss 63

• No. 3 Duke vs. No. 6 Baylor; Sunday, March 22; 4 p.m. on ESPN

• No. 2 LSU vs. No. 7 Texas Tech; Sunday, March 22; 3 p.m. on ABC

Regional 3 - Fort Worth

• No. 1 Texas vs. No. 8 Oregon; Sunday, March 22, 6 p.m. on ESPN

• No. 4 West Virginia vs. No. 5 Kentucky; Monday, March 23, 5 p.m. on ESPN2

• No. 3 Louisville vs. No. 6 Alabama; Monday, March 23, 12 p.m. on ESPN

• No. 2 Michigan 92, No. 7 NC State 63

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Women's Sweet 16 teams: March Madness bracket, schedule update

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Frozen Four 2026: NCAA men's hockey tournament bracket, full schedule, teams, regions, TV

As the men's and women'sNCAA basketball tournamentsprepare to enter their second weekend, the road to the Frozen Four is just beginning. The NCAA revealed its bracket for its 2026 men's hockey tournament on Sunday.

No. 1 Michigan, No. 2 North Dakota, No. 3 Michigan State and No. 4 Western Michigan each lead their own regional. Sixteen teams make up the full bracket.

Western Michigan is trying to repeat as champions. The Broncos entered last year's tournament also as the No. 4 seed. Big Ten champion Michigan is the top overall seed, after defeating rival Ohio State in the conference tournament final.

The regional semifinals start Thursday. The Frozen Four will be played in Las Vegas the second weekend in April.

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NCAA hockey tournament bracket

Worcester Regional

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• No. 3 Michigan State

• Dartmouth

• Wisconsin

• UConn

Sioux Falls Regional

• No. 2 North Dakota

• Providence

• Quinnipiac

• Merrimack

Albany Regional

• No. 1 Michigan

• Minnesota Duluth

• Penn State

• Bentley

Loveland Regional

• No. 4 Western Michigan

• Denver

• Cornell

• Minnesota State

NCAA hockey tournament schedule

Regional semifinals

Thursday, March 26TBD vs. TBD, 1:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN app, Fubo)Providence vs. Quinnipiac, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN+)TBD vs. TBD, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU, ESPN app, Fubo)No. 2 North Dakota vs. Merrimack, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN app, Fubo)

Friday, March 27TBD vs. TBD, 2:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU, ESPN app, Fubo)No. 1 Michigan vs. Bentley, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU, ESPN app, Fubo)TBD vs. TBD, 6 p.m. ET (ESPN+)Minnesota Duluth vs. Penn State, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN app, Fubo)

Regional finals

Saturday, March 28TBD vs. TBD, 4:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN app, Fubo)TBD vs. TBD, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN app, Fubo)

Sunday, March 29TBD vs. TBD, 3 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN app, Fubo)TBD vs. TBD, 5:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN app, Fubo)

Frozen Four

Thursday, April 9TBD vs. TBD, 5 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN app, Fubo)TBD vs. TBD, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN app, Fubo)

Championship

Saturday, April 11TBD vs. TBD, 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2, ESPN app, Fubo)

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Lindsey Vonn shows off progress in gym 1 month after 2026 Olympics crash

Lindsey Vonnis continuing to regain her strength just over a month after a major crash at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.

In a new Instagrampostshared over the weekend, the athlete is seen performing six unassisted pull-ups before lowering herself onto a step stool, returning to her crutches and fist-bumping her trainer to celebrate the milestone.

"First set of pull ups post surgery," she wrote in the caption. "Slowly getting there!"

Lindsey Vonn thanks doctor she says saved her leg from amputation after Olympics crash

Earlier this year, the decorated skier suffered back-to-back injuries. Vonntore the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL, in her left knee on Jan. 30 during a World Cup race in Switzerland. Then, on Feb. 8 at the Milan Cortina Games, shecrashedabout 13 seconds after starting the women's downhill event -- one of her specialties -- on the Olympia delle Tofane slope in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Following the Olympics crash, Vonn was airlifted by helicopter from the course to an Italian hospital. She also documented her return home, flying from Italy back to the United States before being transferred by ambulance to another hospital.

Vonn later shared that she suffered multiple serious injuries, including a complex tibia fracture, fibular head fracture, tibial plateau fracture and compartment syndrome in her leg. She said she underwent a six-hour surgery, including a fasciotomy, and later credited her doctor with saving her leg from amputation.

She said at the time that the injuries and recovery came with significant pain.

"I was really struggling. Pain was a little bit out of control, and I had a blood transfusion, and that helped me a lot," she said, adding that "it was definitely not the way I wanted to end my Olympics."

In aposton X last month, Vonn acknowledged the difficult days of recovery but said she is determined to push forward.

"Today was a hard day… my physical battle began the second I got hurt but the mental battle started today," she wrote. "...I do know hard days are coming but I will find a way back to the top of the mountain of life."

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Sarah Michelle Gellar Highlights the '90s Trends She Never Wants to See Make a Comeback (Exclusive)

Sarah Michelle Gellar shared her disdain for certain '90s trends at the SXSW premiere of Ready or Not 2

NEED TO KNOW

• In PEOPLE's cover story, Gellar talked about the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reboot that was scrapped, despite filming a pilot episode with director Chloé Zhao

• She stars in Ready or Not 2: Here I Come alongside Samara Weaving and Kathryn Newton, now playing in theaters

Sarah Michelle Gellarwas a staple of the '90s thanks to her leading role onBuffy the Vampire Slayerand films likeI Know What You Did Last SummerandCruel Intentions. However, she doesn't want to bring everything from that era back.

Gellar, 48, opened up to PEOPLE at theReady or Not 2: Here I Comeworld premiere screening at SXSW in Austin, Texas, on Friday, March 13, about the resurgence of the decade in today's trends.

"Well, honestly, it's fashion and it's all back right now," she responded when asked if there were any '90s items she'd want to bring back.

Gellar then seemingly referenced the new hit FX seriesLove Story, which centers around Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (Sarah Pidgeon) and John F. Kennedy Jr. (Paul Anthony Kelly)— the former of whom worked at Calvin Klein and is currently going viral as a style inspiration all over again. "So thank goodness I saved my Calvin Klein slip dresses," Gellar said. "Thank goodness."

Despite people returning to the decade for their style influence, Gellar also has things she hated fashion-wise. "I have two trends I never want to come back though, which are the eyebrows, the thin eyebrows, and chokers because they just cut your … no one should have no neck," she told PEOPLE.

Gellar also recently graced PEOPLE's cover, where she talked about her relationship withFreddie Prinze Jr.— as the two got married in 2002 and share daughter Charlotte, 16, and son Rocky, 13.

"Our running joke is that every year we have to look up when our anniversary is," she said about her husband. "Thankfully, People.com always reminds us!"

She also discussed thescrappedBuffy the Vampire Slayerreboot. Gellar had been working with directorChloé Zhaoon the project, but they were told the show wouldn't be moving forward on March 11.

"No one saw this coming," she explained, noting they had shot a pilot episode. "We had an executive on our show who was not only not a fan of the original, was proud to constantly remind us that they had never seen the entirety of the series and how it wasn't for them."

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"The fans are why I wanted to do it in the first place," she added. "To thank them, to show them and to be there for them, because that's whatBuffywas about.Buffywas about chosen family, and that you may feel like you don't belong in the world, but there's someone out there that sees you. And for me, it's always been about me seeing those fans."

Despite this, Gellar plans on staying positive and keeping her sights set on future projects. "I'm going to hold my head high and keep going," she told PEOPLE. "That's what Buffy Summers would do."

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Gellar plays Ursula Danforth inReady or Not 2: Here I Come, a sequel to the 2019 horror film. She stars alongsideSamara Weaving,Kathryn Newton,Shawn Hatosy,David CronenbergandElijah Wood.

"Moments after surviving an all-out attack from the Le Domas family, Grace (Weaving) discovers she's reached the next level of the nightmarish game — and this time with her estranged sister Faith (Newton) at her side," the movie synopsis states. "Grace has one chance to survive, keep her sister alive, and claim the High Seat of the Council that controls the world. Four rival families are hunting her for the throne, and whoever wins rules it all."

The film's directors,Tyler GillettandMatt Bettinelli-Olpin, told PEOPLE that all of the cast "brought something genuinely special to their roles, and we're so thrilled with how scary, funny and bizarre this cast of characters are."

"We put a ton of love into this movie to make it a worthy sequel that we're hoping fans of the first movie — and people who are getting to know Grace for the first time — will really love," they added.

Ready or Not 2: Here I Comeis in theaters now.

Read the original article onPeople

byCosmopolite

in

March 22, 2026

Sarah Michelle Gellar Highlights the '90s Trends She Never Wants to See Make a Comeback (Exclusive)

Sarah Michelle Gellar shared her disdain for certain '90s trends at the SXSW premiere of Ready or Not 2 NEE...

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