Trump asks Smithsonian to install George Washington statues and exhibit

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump called on the Smithsonian Institution to install an 11-foot statue of George Washington at the National Museum of American History by Constitution Day and a 30-foot statue to replace the current "Infinity" sculpture.
• Trump requested a special exhibit honoring Washington to run through February 22, 2032, marking the 300th anniversary of Washington's birth, and criticized the museum for not highlighting Washington's crossing of the Delaware River.
• He proposed replacing the recently ended Center for Restorative History with a "Center for American Heroes" to better celebrate figures like Washington, though the Smithsonian operates independently and may not be compelled to comply.
• Trump's efforts to reshape historical narratives at the Smithsonian include a 2023 executive order targeting funding for programs he deems "divisive," and initiatives to challenge existing exhibits' accuracy, amid leadership changes with Lonnie Bunch stepping down.
• Statues remain central to Trump's vision for American history, including plans for a park displaying 250 prominent Americans and a Washington statue in his Rose Garden patio.