A former president pressed the Smithsonian to install a pair of George Washington statues and launch a commemorative exhibit, proposing an 11-foot statue by Constitution Day and a 30-foot replacement for the Infinity sculpture, with the exhibit running through 2032 to mark Washington’s birth centennial. He also urged a new Center for American Heroes to spotlight Washington’s deeds, arguing the museum omits his Delaware River crossing. The drive comes amid broader White House efforts to reshuffle how American history is presented and potential executive actions aimed at funding shifts and signage. The Smithsonian’s independence and governance, including a Board of Regents that includes political and civic figures, complicate any unilateral changes. Separately, Lonnie Bunch announced his forthcoming departure as the Smithsonian’s top leader, while Trump has repeatedly championed statues of prominent Americans and future monuments in Washington.
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Trump used social media to call for an 11-foot Washington statue in the Flag Hall of the National Museum of American History and for a commemorative exhibit beginning immediately and running through February 22, 2032.
He proposed replacing the current 30-foot Infinity sculpture by Jose de Rivera with an 30-foot Washington statue, aiming to physically anchor the reflecting space around Washington’s legacy.
Trump asserted that Washington’s Delaware River crossing and other foundational events are underrepresented in the museum, framing the proposal as a corrective historical narrative.
He suggested a new Center for American Heroes instead of the recently concluded Center for Restorative History, signaling a shift in thematic emphasis toward celebrated figures.
It remains unclear whether the Smithsonian can be directed by the White House to implement such changes, given the institution’s independence and governance by a Board of Regents that includes high-profile officials and lawmakers.
The broader political context includes prior White House orders to place signage about exhibit inaccuracies and discussions of funding implications tied to narratives the administration deems divisive.
Lonnie Bunch announced he will step down as Smithsonian Secretary at the end of the year, intersecting with Trump’s ongoing interest in statues and monuments across the capital.