Trump calls on Smithsonian to replace sculpture with Washington statue

Key Points:

• Former President Donald Trump has called on the Smithsonian Institution to replace the modernist "Infinity" sculpture outside the National Museum of American History with a 30-foot statue of George Washington, arguing the current sculpture "says nothing about America."
• Trump also proposed a five-year exhibition honoring Washington, running through the 300th anniversary of his birth in 2032, and an 11-foot statue in the museum’s Flag Hall by Constitution Day.
• Trump criticized the Smithsonian for not sufficiently highlighting Washington’s historical achievements, such as his crossing of the Delaware River, and called for replacing the recently ended Center for Restorative History with a "Center for American Heroes."
• The Smithsonian operates independently of the executive branch, overseen by a bipartisan Board of Regents, making it unclear if Trump’s requests will be acted upon; the institution has emphasized its commitment to nonpartisan and unbiased scholarship.
• Trump’s administration has previously taken actions to influence the Smithsonian’s narratives, including an executive order targeting "divisive narratives" and placing signs outside the museum claiming some exhibits are inaccurate; Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch announced he will step down at the end of the year.