Trump Demands Smithsonian Erase Modern Art for Outdated Washington Monument
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President Donald Trump has once again targeted public art and historical interpretation, pressuring the Smithsonian to remove the 'Infinity' sculpture and install a massive George Washington statue, pushing a narrow, nationalist vision of history.
President Donald Trump took to social media to demand that the Smithsonian Institution erase the 'Infinity' sculpture, a modernist work by artist José de Rivera that has stood outside the National Museum of American History since 1967, in favor of a 30-foot statue glorifying George Washington. Trump’s call for a five-year exhibition honoring Washington, to run through Feb. 22, 2032—the 300th anniversary of Washington’s birth—further demonstrates his relentless push to rewrite American history through a narrow, conservative lens. He also insisted on placing an 11-foot Washington statue in the museum’s Flag Hall by Constitution Day, Sept. 17, reinforcing his agenda to elevate nationalist symbols over diverse narratives.
'Immediately design and display a five-year exhibition worthy of the Life, Sacrifice, and Contributions of George Washington,' Trump wrote, disregarding the complex realities of Washington’s legacy, including his role as a slaveholder.
'Then, as soon as it is ready, install a 30-foot Washington Colossus where ‘Infinity’ stands today,' he added, seeking to erase decades of public art that reflect a broader, more inclusive American story.
The 'Infinity' sculpture, commissioned by the federal government in 1967, represents a period of artistic innovation and progress. The Smithsonian, which operates independently and is overseen by a bipartisan Board of Regents, has long championed scholarship that reflects the full spectrum of American history, not just sanitized hero worship.
Trump’s ongoing attacks on the Smithsonian’s portrayal of history—claiming it neglects figures like Washington and the so-called Founding Fathers—are part of a wider campaign to suppress critical engagement with the past. His suggestion to replace the Center for Restorative History with a 'Center for American Heroes' is a thinly veiled attempt to whitewash history and silence stories of marginalized communities who have fought for justice and equality.
The Smithsonian has not responded to Trump’s demands. The Board of Regents has reaffirmed its commitment to nonpartisan, inclusive scholarship, even as Secretary Lonnie Bunch, the institution’s first African American leader, prepares to step down at the end of the year.