SD Gov. criticizes Ben & Jerry’s for wanting to ‘return’ Mt. Rushmore, calls them ‘Vermont liberals’.

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem Blasts Ben & Jerry’s Anti-American 4th of July Message

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R) has strongly criticized Ben & Jerry’s for their anti-American message on Independence Day. She argues that the company’s leadership lacks a proper understanding of American history.

Ben & Jerry’s Calls for the Return of “Stolen Indigenous Land”

On July 4th, Ben & Jerry’s Twitter account posted a message advocating for the return of “stolen Indigenous land,” including Mount Rushmore, to Native American groups. The company’s tweet included a link to an article that argued for the return of Mount Rushmore and a petition to support this cause. Governor Noem had a different perspective.

Governor Noem’s Response

“I’m not going to listen to a bunch of liberal Vermont businessmen who think they know everything about this country and haven’t studied our history,” Noem told “Fox & Friends” Thursday. “Right now, Mount Rushmore is the greatest symbol of our freedom and history of the United States of America.”

Ben & Jerry’s Claims

The ice cream maker’s article, titled “The US Was Founded on Stolen Indigenous Land—This July 4, Let’s Commit to Returning It,” argues that Mount Rushmore and the Black Hills should be returned to the Lakota people, claiming that the United States “stole” the land. Ben & Jerry’s suggests that the celebrations of the 4th of July distract from this issue.

This 4th of July, it’s high time we recognize that the US exists on stolen Indigenous land and commit to returning it. Learn more and take action now: https://t.co/45smaBmORH pic.twitter.com/a6qp7LXUAE

— Ben & Jerry’s (@benandjerrys) July 4, 2023

Governor Noem’s Perspective

“We can learn from the men on that mountain,” Noem said. “We can do better. But, boy, they led us through some challenging times. And I think Americans in this country need some inspiration, and we can gain it from a monument like that.”

Noem encourages Americans to take pride in their country and dismiss the claims made by Ben & Jerry’s. Host Brian Kilmeade points out that the company is taking advantage of the country’s free enterprise system while criticizing it.

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Other Politicians Speak Out

Governor Noem is not the only politician who has criticized Ben & Jerry’s. Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee questioned the company’s intentions when it called for the “return” of the land. He asked if this meant the expungement of property rights or the repatriation of Americans to Europe.

In January, South Dakota Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson re-introduced the Mount Rushmore Protection Act, which aims to prevent the renaming or destruction of Mount Rushmore. Sixteen other Republicans have co-sponsored the bill.

“Our nation’s history is not without its flaws, but there is no doubt the faces on Mount Rushmore represent democracy, freedom, and the great American experiment,” Johnson said.

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