FILE - In this July 3, 2020, file photo, President Donald Trump stands at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, near Keystone, S.D. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem says she gave former president Donald Trump a $1,100 bust depicting the president on Mount Rushmore last year because she knew it was something he wanted to receive. The gift was presented to Trump when he visited South Dakota on Friday, July 3, 2020 for an Independence Day fireworks celebration.
PIERRE, S.D. — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Thursday said she gave former president Donald Trump a $1,100 bust depicting the president on Mount Rushmore last year because she knew it was something he wanted to receive.
The gift was presented to Trump when he visited South Dakota on July 3 for an Independence Day fireworks celebration. The Mount Rushmore miniature stood 4 feet and depicted Trump alongside former presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
It was not immediately known where Trump's face was positioned on the bust that Noem gave him.
Trump's financial disclosures released Wednesday by the Office of Government Ethics say the bust cost $1,100, which Noem said was paid by private donations she solicited.
The Republican governor said she always tries to give gifts "that somebody wants to receive."
"I knew that that was something that he would find special," she said.
Noem said in 2018 that Trump once told her that it was his dream to have his face carved into the monument. He later joked at a campaign rally about joining the presidents on the massive monument.
Noem pushed to have fireworks return to Mount Rushmore last year as part of an Independence Day celebration. The pyrotechnic display was canceled for a decade because of fire danger after a pine beetle infestation.
Noem said Thursday that she hoped that the fireworks could continue every year and said she would like to have President Joe Biden attend.
Photos: Trump visits Mount Rushmore for fireworks
Fireworks attendees enter Mount Rushmore grounds
Around 7,500 attendees filed in after security checks at Mount Rushmore, which included two rounds of backpack searches, a walk-through metal detector and a handheld metal detector.
U.S. Army wears masks
No social distancing or mask-wearing policies were enforced at the fireworks event on Friday night, but the U.S. Army continued to comply with mask-wearing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Security checks
One of 7,500 attendees is seen going through security as a guard uses a handheld metal detector on patrons.
Crowd grows in size
Seating quickly filled up in the amphitheater at Mount Rushmore, hours before the fireworks would go off.
No mask mandate
Few event attendees chose to wear masks, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. No mask-wearing policy was mandated for all the event attendees, and no social distancing was enforced.
Police, Secret Service convene
Police, Secret Service and other armed guards were on standby Friday at Mount Rushmore. Most were not seen wearing masks.
Park official kicks off the show
Patricia Trap, acting superintendent of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, gave a brief speech to kick off the programming at the fireworks event.
Pegasus plays
The nine-member Air Force special pop band known as "Pegasus" played covers of Steely Dan, Dexys Midnight Runners and Michael Jackson at the event.
Roosevelt speaks
A Teddy Roosevelt reenactor addressed the packed crowd at Mount Rushmore.
No social distancing
Social distancing was impossible and not enforced by event planners for the crowd of 7,500 at Mount Rushmore on Friday.
Standing room only
The lower level of the amphitheater at Mount Rushmore saw packed rows of seats. Some people stood off to the sides at times.
Hoop dancer performs
Jasmine Pickner-Bell, a member of the Crow Creek Dakota Sioux Tribe, performed a Sacred Hoop Dance.
Indigenous representation at Mount Rushmore
Here, Jasmine Pickner-Bell, a member of the Crow Creek Dakota Sioux Tribe, performs a Sacred Hoop Dance. Other indigenous storytellers and speakers were at the forefront of the event, including Darrell Red Cloud and Sequoia Crosswhite.
Trump supporters fly the flags
A majority of audience members at the July 3 fireworks show were vocal Trump supporters. Many brought in their own signs and flags, such as these two people sporting a "Re-Elect Trump" and Trump flag.
Air Force One flies over the crowd
Air Force One made a flyover at Mount Rushmore before landing at Ellsworth Air Force Base early Friday evening.
Marine One takes a turn
Marine One — one of the two helicopters pictured — transported President Trump to the monument from Ellsworth Air Force Base. The helicopters were followed by a larger plane for security.
Marine One flyover
Marine One flyover
Marine One flyover
Marine One flew past Mount Rushmore on its way to drop Trump off at a helipad near the memorial.
Homemade signs
Several people at Mount Rushmore brought their own signs and waved them vigorously during speeches and flyovers.
Noem's family takes a seat
Gov. Kristi Noem sat in the front row with her family at the event on the stage. Rep. Dusty Johnson can be seen in the back row wearing a mask, the only person on stage to do so during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Trump's family appears
President Donald Trump's family was present at the event, including his two sons.
Trump's side of the stage
Thune and Rounds appear with "thumbs-up"
Sen. John Thune and Sen. Mike Rounds walked onstage to a round of applause. Despite pledging to wear a mask at the event, Rounds was seen without one during the COVID-19 pandemic.
POTUS and FLOTUS
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walked onstage hand-in-hand Friday night ahead of the fireworks display at Mount Rushmore.
Trumps
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump seen at Mount Rushmore on Friday evening ahead of the fireworks display.
Trumps
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump seen at Mount Rushmore on Friday evening ahead of the fireworks display.
Trumps
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump seen at Mount Rushmore on Friday evening ahead of the fireworks display.
Trumps
President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump seen at Mount Rushmore on Friday evening ahead of the fireworks display.
National Anthem
President Trump salutes and First Lady Melania Trump holds her hand over her heart while the National Anthem plays Friday evening at Mount Rushmore ahead of the fireworks display.
National Anthem
The U.S. Air Force Academy Concert Band recites the National Anthem as President Trump and the First Lady look on.
Flyovers
Flyovers
Flyovers
Applause
President Trump applauds as messages from South Dakota's armed forces play onscreen Friday night at Mount Rushmore ahead of the fireworks display.
Trump's side of the stage
Flyovers
Noem speaks
Gov. Kristi Noem speaks to the crowd at Mount Rushmore on Friday night. A majority of attendees were South Dakotans, according to a show of hands she requested.
Secretary of Interior gives an address
Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt spoke Friday and said it was "great" to be in South Dakota.
Trump talks
President Trump spoke Friday night at Mount Rushmore ahead of the fireworks display, saying Mount Rushmore would not be defaced or torn down anytime soon.
Fireworks
Fireworks go off at Mount Rushmore on Friday night for the first time in 11 years.
Fireworks
Fireworks go off at Mount Rushmore on Friday night for the first time in 11 years.
Fireworks
Fireworks go off at Mount Rushmore on Friday night for the first time in 11 years.
