Donald Trump Wants an Alex Trebek Statue in a "Garden of American Heroes"

The late Canadian is among the 250 American figures set to be honoured

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Jan 18, 2021

Aggrieved by the summertime toppling of Confederate statues across the United States, Donald Trump called for the construction of a National Garden of American Heroes last July as a monument to "our country's greatness." Now, it's been revealed that such greatness also includes an accomplished Canadian in the late Alex Trebek.

Per a White House executive order, the Sudbury, ON-born Trebek will be one of 250 people immortalized in the to-be-constructed National Garden of American Heroes, along with a host of other accomplished figures from the worlds of politics, sport, entertainment and more. 

The executive order explains that each individual "has been chosen for embodying the American spirit of daring and defiance, excellence and adventure, courage and confidence, loyalty and love. Astounding the world by the sheer power of their example, each one of them has contributed indispensably to America's noble history, the best chapters of which are still to come."

Trebek did become a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1998, and while helming Jeopardy! for 37 seasons is no small feat, it does not change the strong ties Trebek had to Canada. After the longtime host passed away last November, Parliament Hill's bell tower played the Jeopardy! theme in his honour.

You can find the executive order outlining all 250 inclusions in the National Garden of American Heroes here. It's possible that president-elect Joe Biden will abandon the project following his inauguration this month, which will feature the reunited New Radicals, your favourite viral juice drinker and more.

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