President Donald Trump is pressing for a Smithsonian George Washington statue and a new exhibit at the National Museum of American History, calling for an immediate display that would run through Feb. 22, 2032, the 300th anniversary of Washington’s birth.
In social media posts late Friday, Trump asked the Smithsonian Institution to place the 11-foot Washington statue used at the recent Freedom 250 IndyCar race in the museum’s Flag Hall for Constitution Day on Sept. 17. He also proposed a special exhibit honoring the nation’s first president that would remain on view through the semiquincentennial period.
Trump further called for replacing the museum’s existing “Infinity” sculpture, created by New York artist Jose de Rivera and installed in 1967, with a 30-foot statue of Washington outside the building. He described Washington as “America’s Greatest Hero,” and criticized the museum for not highlighting the general’s crossing of the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War.
He suggested the museum should establish a “Center for American Heroes” instead of its recently concluded Center for Restorative History, which focused on stories historically left out of the national narrative.
Smithsonian George Washington statue proposal faces governance hurdles
It is unclear whether a president can compel such changes. The Smithsonian operates outside the executive branch, and its Board of Regents oversees leadership decisions.
The board includes Vice President JD Vance, Chief Justice John Roberts, a bipartisan group of members of Congress, and several citizen regents.
Trump signaled earlier this year that he intends to pursue changes at the institution through an executive order targeting funding for programs he said advance “divisive narratives” or “improper ideology.” The White House also issued a report this year arguing the Smithsonian has not sufficiently emphasized Washington and other founders.
In July, Trump directed his administration to post signs outside the U.S. history museum warning visitors that some exhibits are inaccurate, part of his broader push to reshape how the nation’s story is presented.
The Smithsonian’s secretary, Lonnie Bunch, announced this week he will step down at the end of the year.
Statues remain central to Trump’s broader cultural agenda
Trump has repeatedly promoted new monuments as part of his effort to remake the nation’s capital. He has proposed a park along the Potomac River to showcase statues of 250 notable Americans, and he added a statue of Washington to the remodeled Rose Garden patio at the White House grounds during his tenure.
For island readers planning trips to Washington, D.C., the National Museum of American History remains a major draw on the National Mall. Any decision on a Smithsonian George Washington statue or exhibit would be determined by the institution’s leadership and board process.
For readers interested in testing their knowledge of U.S. history and culture, try our American Culture Quiz: Try this week’s 8-question test for a broader perspective on the nation’s past.
