Here’s what President Trump is demanding.
President Donald Trump is pushing for a dramatic change at one of Washington, D.C.’s most prominent museums, calling for a longtime modern-art sculpture to be replaced with a towering monument to George Washington.
Trump announced Friday that he wants the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to replace “Infinity,” an abstract sculpture that has stood outside the museum for decades, with a 30-foot statue honoring America’s first president.
The proposal is part of a broader effort to give Washington a more prominent place at the Smithsonian as the United States prepares for the 300th anniversary of his birth in 2032.
Trump Calls for Major Change at Smithsonian
Trump laid out his plans in a series of public statements outlining how he believes the museum should commemorate Washington.
One of his first requests involves an existing 11-foot Washington statue that recently appeared at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix Race. Trump wants the statue displayed inside the museum’s Flag Hall and dedicated on Constitution Day, September 17, 2026.
He also called for the Smithsonian to develop a five-year exhibition focusing on Washington’s life, sacrifices and contributions to the country.
But Trump’s most significant proposal concerns the museum’s exterior.
The president wants a 30-foot monument he described as the “Washington Colossus” placed where the “Infinity” sculpture currently stands.
Trump argued that the highly visible location should feature a historical figure who played a central role in the creation of the United States.
What Is the “Infinity” Sculpture?
“Infinity” was designed by abstract artist José de Rivera and dedicated in 1967.
The stainless-steel sculpture rotates above a granite base near the entrance to the National Museum of American History. According to the Smithsonian, it was the first contemporary sculpture installed on the National Mall and the first modern work commissioned by the federal government under an art and architecture program for the Mall.
That history has not persuaded Trump that it belongs in such a prominent location.
The president criticized the sculpture as offering visitors little connection to the country’s history and argued that a monument to Washington would provide a more recognizable representation of the American founding.
The Smithsonian has not publicly committed to replacing the sculpture.
George Washington Becomes Focus of Trump’s Smithsonian Push
Trump’s proposal goes well beyond replacing a piece of modern art.
He also criticized how the museum presents Washington and other figures from the Revolutionary era, arguing that important moments in the fight for American independence deserve greater attention.
Trump specifically highlighted Washington’s famous crossing of the Delaware River on December 25, 1776.
The dangerous nighttime operation preceded the Battle of Trenton, where Washington’s forces achieved an important victory at a difficult stage of the Revolutionary War.
Trump believes episodes such as the Delaware crossing, the victory at Trenton and the experiences of Americans who fought during the Revolution should receive more prominent treatment inside the National Museum of American History.
WATCH:
🚨 JUST IN: President Trump is having the Smithsonian install a BEAUTIFUL George Washington statue at the Flag Hall — the same one that was at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 12, 2026
Trump is moving to HONOR OUR HEROES again, not attack America’s past 👏🏻
47 is REPLACING an existing… pic.twitter.com/oHpNr5yazk
Trump Wants New “Center for American Heroes”
The president also proposed a larger change to how the Smithsonian presents the nation’s past.
Trump called for replacing the Smithsonian’s Center for Restorative History, which the institution says concluded its work in 2024, with a new initiative he would call the “Center for American Heroes.”
Under Trump’s proposal, the new center would focus on Americans who overcame significant challenges, defended the United States, built major institutions and contributed to the country’s development.
Trump has repeatedly argued that federally supported museums should devote greater attention to national achievements and historically significant Americans.
The debate reflects a broader disagreement over how museums should present the country’s complicated history, including how much attention should be devoted to national accomplishments alongside subjects such as slavery, discrimination, conflict and injustice.
Smithsonian Dispute Comes During Leadership Transition
Trump’s latest proposal arrives during a period of major change for the Smithsonian.
Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III recently announced that he plans to retire at the end of 2026.
His departure follows disagreements between the Trump administration and Smithsonian officials over the presentation of American history.
Bunch has said his decision to leave was not caused by pressure from the president.
The leadership transition could nevertheless come at an important moment for the institution as it faces continued scrutiny over exhibits, historical interpretation and the role of the federal government in Smithsonian affairs.
Can Trump Make the Smithsonian Remove the Sculpture?
Trump’s announcement does not mean “Infinity” will automatically disappear.
The Smithsonian is governed by a Board of Regents and has a unique legal structure rather than functioning like an ordinary executive-branch department.
For now, Trump has publicly called on Smithsonian officials to make the change. Whether the institution ultimately agrees to remove “Infinity” and replace it with the proposed 30-foot Washington monument remains to be seen.
What is clear is that Trump wants George Washington to occupy a much more prominent position at the National Museum of American History.
As the country moves beyond its 250th anniversary and toward Washington’s 300th birthday in 2032, the dispute could become part of a much larger discussion over how America’s museums present the people and events that shaped the nation.
