President Donald Trump has called on the Smithsonian Institution to replace a decades-old modernist sculpture outside the National Museum of American History with a 30-foot-tall statue of George Washington and establish a five-year exhibition honoring the first U.S. president.
Trump’s proposal includes two key demands: First, an 11-foot statue of Washington featured at the recent Freedom 250 Grand Prix Race should be installed in the museum’s Flag Hall by Constitution Day on September 17, 2026. Second, a five-year exhibition dedicated to Washington’s life, sacrifice, and contributions should begin immediately and run through February 22, 2032, marking the 300th anniversary of Washington’s birth. Trump also proposed replacing the existing modernist sculpture, titled ‘Infinity’, with a 30-foot Washington statue outside the museum.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump criticized the ‘Infinity’ sculpture, created by artist José de Rivera and installed in 1967, as a work that ‘says nothing about America’ and ‘honors none of our Great American Heroes.’ He argued that Washington, as ‘easily America’s Greatest Hero,’ embodies the nation’s founding principles and deserves greater recognition during the country’s 250th anniversary year. Trump highlighted Washington’s Heroic Crossing of the Delaware on December 25, 1776, and his Victory at Trenton as pivotal moments in the Revolutionary War that he believes are underrepresented in the museum’s current exhibits.
The Smithsonian Institution, which operates independently of the executive branch, has not yet responded to requests for comment. The institution is overseen by a Board of Regents that includes Vice President JD Vance, Chief Justice John Roberts, lawmakers from both parties, and citizen members. It remains unclear whether Trump has the authority to compel the Smithsonian to implement these changes.
The modernist sculpture ‘Infinity’ consists of a ribbon of thin stainless steel mounted atop a rotating black granite pylon and has stood outside the National Museum of American History since 1967. Trump’s proposal comes amid broader criticism from his administration regarding how the Smithsonian presents American history, particularly during the nation’s Semiquincentennial celebrations.