Trump asks Smithsonian Institution to install a statue of Washington
US President Donald Trump has asked the Smithsonian Institution to install a 30-foot “colossal statue” of the first US president, George Washington, near the National Museum of American History in Washington and open a special exhibition dedicated to him. The Guardian reports.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said the exhibition should remain open until February 2032, the 300th anniversary of Washington’s birth. He called the first US president “the greatest American hero” and said that without him, the country and its freedoms would not exist.
Proposal to replace the sculpture
Under Trump’s plan, the Washington statue would replace Infinity, a sculpture by New York artist José de Rivera. The US federal government commissioned the sculpture, which was installed in 1967.
The president also criticized what he considered the museum’s insufficient attention to Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River during the American Revolutionary War and his victory at Trenton. Instead of the recently completed Center for Restorative History initiative, dedicated to stories excluded from the national historical narrative, Trump proposed creating a “Center for American Heroes.”
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Status of the institution
As the publication notes, it is unclear whether Trump has the authority to demand such changes. The Smithsonian Institution operates outside the US executive branch, and its leadership is overseen by a board of regents. Its members include Vice President J.D. Vance, Chief Justice John Roberts, lawmakers from both parties, and citizens.
In July, Trump instructed the US Department of the Interior to install plaques near the museum stating that the exhibits should be updated in line with the findings of his administration’s report. In March 2025, the administration released a 162-page report accusing the museum of placing excessive emphasis on themes of oppression, social justice, and divisions. According to The Guardian, such plaques have not yet been installed.
Earlier, Trump also asked for an 11-foot statue of Washington, presented at the Freedom 250 IndyCar race, to be placed in the museum’s Hall of Flags. Last week, Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch announced that he would leave his post by the end of the year after seven years at the helm of the institution.
