President Donald Trump has urged the Smithsonian Institution to significantly alter its focus at the National Museum of American History, advocating for a prominent celebration of George Washington. In late Friday night social media posts, Trump called for the installation of an 11-foot statue of Washington, featured at the recent Freedom 250 IndyCar race, in the museum's Flag Hall by Constitution Day, September 17, 2026. He also demanded a 30-foot "Washington Colossus" to replace the current "Infinity" sculpture by Jose de Rivera at the museum's main entrance, which he described as a "strange modernist sculpture" that "tells visitors nothing about America, inspires no one, and honors none of our Great American Heroes."
Beyond statues, Trump requested a new five-year exhibition dedicated to George Washington, starting immediately and continuing through February 22, 2032, which marks the 300th anniversary of Washington’s birth. He expressed frustration that the museum currently fails to mention key historical events like Washington's crossing of the Delaware River and his victory at Trenton. Trump emphasized Washington's importance, stating, "He is easily America’s Greatest Hero. Without him, our Country and our Freedoms wouldn’t exist."
Trump also criticized the Smithsonian's overall direction, particularly its "Center for Restorative History" and a recently ended initiative to spotlight stories excluded from the national narrative, which he characterized as focusing "overwhelmingly on those who have been oppressed." He suggested replacing this with a "Center for American Heroes," arguing that the museum should focus on those who triumphed over adversity rather than what he perceives as ideological activism. These demands follow previous criticisms from Trump, who has for months denounced the Smithsonian for what he views as an excessive focus on topics like slavery and a presentation of U.S. history from a perspective he deems anti-American.
