All that glitters... Donald Trump's $5.3million makeover for Washington statues

By ANDREW JEHRING, CHIEF FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT Published: 23:16, 28 July 2026 | Updated: 23:25, 28 July 2026 When it comes to sprucing things up, Donald Trump seems to have a golden rule. And on Tuesday night the US President revealed images of Washington DC's two Arts of War bronze horse sculptures - which have now been covered in a layer of 23-carat gold leaf worth $5million. Earlier this year Mr Trump unveiled a 22ft golden statue of himself at one of his golf clubs in Miami, and has already added gold trimmings to furniture and fittings in the Oval Office - including gold coasters with his name on them.  Sharing an image on Truth Social of the $5million work carried out on the sculptures, Mr Trump wrote: 'Taking down the scaffolding around the regilded Arts of War sculptures.' The two statues, named 'Sacrifice' and 'Valor', have stood since 1951, framing the entrance of Arlington Memorial Bridge.  They last underwent major renovations in the 1970s with smaller efforts in 1984 and 2005.  A Department of the Interior spokesman described the work on social media as 'longgggg overdue'. One of the two Arts of War statues on the Memorial Bridge is seen here following the $5.3million restoration The Sacrifice equestrian sculpture by Leo Friedlander stands on a pedestal at the Washington end of Arlington Memorial Bridge. It is seen here before the restoration work