“That strange modernist sculpture tells visitors nothing about America,” Trump wrote in part of the historic art piece completed in 1967
Credit: Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty; Donald Trump/Truth Social
NEED TO KNOW
- Donald Trump wants a 30-foot “Colossus statue” of George Washington to replace the “Infinity” sculpture at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History
- “That strange modernist sculpture tells visitors nothing about America,” Trump wrote in part of “Infinity,” a historic sculpture built in 1967
- He demanded the Smithsonian make the change, along with several others, to “honor” Washington before his 300th birthday on Truth Social
Donald Trump wants the Smithsonian Institution to build a massive new statue of George Washington in Washington, D.C., to replace a piece of historic abstract art, which he believes says “nothing about America.”
The president, 80, demanded the institution highlight Washington by erecting a 30-foot “Colossus statue” outside of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Truth Social posts on Friday, Sept. 11. He also called for a smaller statue of the Founding Father and a five-year exhibition dedicated to his life.
In the first post, Trump wrote that he is asking the Smithsonian to “install a 30-foot Washington Colossus” where “Infinity,” a historic abstract sculpture, has long stood outside of the museum, overlooking the National Mall.
In a second follow-up Truth Social post, he elaborated on the demand, writing: “I am also calling on the Smithsonian to erect a 30-foot ‘Colossus statue’ of the Father of Our Country outside the Museum, to replace the so-called ‘Infinity’ sculpture that stands there today.”
Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty
“That strange modernist sculpture tells visitors nothing about America, inspires no one, and honors none of our Great American Heroes,” Trump continued in the post. “George Washington does. He is easily America’s Greatest Hero. Without him, our Country and our Freedoms wouldn’t exist.”
“Infinity,” a thin stainless steel ribbon rotating atop a pedestal, is the first abstract work commissioned by the federal government in Washington, D.C., according to the DC Preservation League.
The 13½-foot sculpture, which was created by American artist José de Rivera, has been looking out at the National Mall from in front of the museum since its completion in 1967.
In his first post, Trump shared a mockup of his proposed Washington “Colossus statue” in front of the National Museum of American History, as well as an image of Rivera’s decades-old art piece that currently stands there.
He also shared additional demands for the Smithsonian Institution to install an existing 11-foot sculpture of Washington to display indoors, as well as an entire exhibition dedicated to the first president.
All of the requests, Trump said in the posts, are ways to “honor” Washington “in the lead-up to his 300th birthday in 2032.”
Credit: Andia/Universal Images Group via Getty
“So, I’m asking for the Smithsonian to install the 11-foot Washington statue that was featured at the recent Freedom 250 Grand Prix Race in the Museum’s Flag Hall, and dedicate it this Constitution Day, September 17, 2026,” Trump said on Truth Social.
He added, “I am calling on the Smithsonian Institution to honor the Life and Legacy of George Washington, America’s Greatest Hero, with a five-year exhibition at the National Museum of American History, beginning now, and continuing through, February 22, 2032, the 300th anniversary of Washington’s birth.”
In his posts detailing the demands for the Smithsonian Institution, Trump criticized the National Museum of American History for failing “to give George Washington and our other Founding Fathers the celebration they deserve” throughout the United States’ 250th anniversary year.
He also criticized “recently ended leadership” at the Smithsonian Institution for “twisted” thinking, seemingly referring to the news that Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution Lonnie Bunch III plans to retire by the end of the year.
Credit: Anna Moneymaker; Heritage Images via Getty
Trump further condemned the organization’s “attention overwhelmingly on those who have been oppressed,” arguing that “there is almost no attention paid to those who triumphed over great oppression, and against great odds.”
“Instead of focusing on ideological activism, the leaders of America’s taxpayer-funded, National History Museum should be focused on telling America’s story—fairly, accurately, and coherently—and there is no better person to start with than George Washington,” Trump wrote.
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Bunch’s retirement — which the institution announced on Tuesday, Sept. 8 — comes as Trump and his administration have threatened the institution’s federal funding and tried to make several changes within its museums, including removing what he has dubbed “improper ideology,” per The Washington Post.
Pressure and demands from the Trump administration did not play a role in the top official’s decision to step away, Bunch told the Post, however, noting that he “will continue to fight” until he wraps his time in the role.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Smithsonian for comment.
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