Trump Urges Smithsonian to Swap Modern Sculpture for Giant Washington Statue

President Trump has called on the Smithsonian Institution to remove a longstanding abstract sculpture outside the National Museum of American History and install a 30-foot-tall statue of George Washington in its place. The proposal, outlined in a Truth Social post on Friday, frames the change as the start of a broader effort to mark the 300th anniversary of Washington’s birth in 2032.

The current work, titled Infinity, is a rotating stainless-steel piece by artist Jose de Rivera that has stood on the museum’s grounds since its dedication in 1967. Commissioned through the federal Art and Architecture Program, it was the first modern sculpture placed on the National Mall by the U.S. government. Trump described the piece as a “strange modernist” work that “inspires no one” and said it should be replaced by a figure who “more than anyone else, says everything about America.”

Alongside the outdoor monument, Trump asked the Smithsonian to move an 11-foot Washington statue recently displayed at a Freedom 250 Grand Prix Race into the museum’s Flag Hall. He suggested dedicating that installation on Constitution Day, September 17, 2026, and developing a five-year exhibition on Washington’s life and contributions before erecting the larger colossus.

The request arrives as Smithsonian leadership prepares for transition. Secretary Lonnie Bunch, who oversaw the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture and later became the institution’s head, is scheduled to retire at the end of the year. Bunch’s tenure coincided with expanded attention to previously underrepresented histories across Smithsonian museums, a shift that drew both praise for broadening public access and criticism from some observers who argued it diluted focus on founding figures.

Public art on the Mall has long reflected competing ideas about how the nation should represent itself. Early monuments favored heroic, figurative depictions of leaders and events. Mid-century commissions, including Infinity, introduced abstract forms intended to signal openness to contemporary artistic practice. Debates over these choices have periodically resurfaced whenever administrations or Congress revisit questions of national memory and institutional priorities.

Trump’s proposal would require coordination between the Smithsonian, the National Capital Planning Commission, and Congress for funding and approvals. No timeline or cost estimate was included in the posts. The Smithsonian has not yet issued a formal response.

The episode illustrates ongoing tensions over how federal cultural institutions balance historical reverence with evolving artistic and interpretive standards. With Washington’s tercentenary approaching, the coming years are likely to bring additional proposals for commemorative projects on federal property.