Trump demands Smithsonian replace ‘strange modernist’ sculpture with 30-foot-tall ‘Washington Colossus’
President Trump urged the Smithsonian to replace the rotating abstract work that greets visitors at the National Museum of American History with a towering 30‑foot statue of George Washington. He framed the proposal as a way to honor the nation’s first president ahead of Washington’s 300th birthday and suggested a Constitution Day dedication in September 2026.
The piece slated for removal is Infinity, a kinetic sculpture by Jose de Rivera installed in 1967 as the first modern art commission for the National Mall under the Art and Architecture Program. Its sleek, moving form has long stood as a hallmark of mid‑century modernism on the museum’s front steps.
Trump argued that the abstract sculpture “tells visitors nothing about America,” and positioned a monumental Washington figure as a more fitting symbol of national identity. He also called for a new “Center for American Heroes” to replace the Smithsonian’s recently created Center for Restorative History, emphasizing narratives of triumph and perseverance.
The demand arrives as Lonnie Bunch III announced his retirement as head of the Smithsonian, a move that follows ongoing tensions between the administration and the institution over how American history is presented in its exhibitions.