Trump asks Smithsonian to install ‘Colossus statue’ of George Washington with exhibit

Key Points:

• Former President Donald Trump requested the Smithsonian Institution to install a 30-foot statue of George Washington outside the National Museum of American History and to extend a special exhibit honoring Washington through 2032, the 300th anniversary of his birth.
• Trump criticized the museum for not sufficiently highlighting Washington’s Revolutionary War achievements, such as the Delaware River crossing and the victory at Trenton, and proposed replacing the Center for Restorative History with a "Center for American Heroes."
• The Smithsonian operates independently from the executive branch, overseen by a board of regents, making it unclear whether Trump has authority to enforce these changes; Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch plans to step down by year-end amid concerns over institutional independence.
• The Trump administration has increased involvement in arts and culture, including requests for new statues, removal of existing artworks without public consultation, and consideration of selling a Kehinde Wiley painting from a US embassy.
• Trump's broader efforts include multiple statue installations and proposals to reshape national historical narratives, reflecting his interest in influencing how American history and heroes are publicly commemorated.