President Donald Trump on Friday called on the Smithsonian Institution to honor George Washington with a 30-foot statue and a five-year exhibition at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump requested the museum replace the existing "Infinity" sculpture—a rotating stainless steel abstract piece installed in 1967—with the new statue. He also asked for an exhibition beginning immediately and running through February 22, 2032, the 300th anniversary of Washington’s birth.
Trump additionally proposed placing an 11-foot statue of Washington, previously featured at the Freedom 250 IndyCar race, in the museum’s Flag Hall by Constitution Day on September 17. He criticized the museum for not prominently featuring Washington’s fabled crossing of the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War.
The president’s request comes amid broader discussions about the museum’s exhibits and public art installations. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History currently houses artifacts such as the Star-Spangled Banner and Abraham Lincoln’s hat, but its outdoor sculpture and exhibition policies remain subject to institutional review.
The Smithsonian Institution, a federally funded research and museum complex, has not yet responded to Trump’s proposal. The institution operates independently of direct presidential influence, though its leadership is appointed by the U.S. president.
The "Infinity" sculpture by artist Jose de Rivera has been a fixture at the museum’s main entrance since its installation. The abstract piece, commissioned by the federal government, has been both praised for its modernist design and criticized for its lack of representational clarity.
Trump’s posts did not specify funding sources for the proposed statue or exhibition. The Smithsonian’s budget is determined by Congress, and any major structural changes would require approval from its governing board.