Trump Tells Smithsonian to Tear Down “Strange Modernist” Infinity Sculpture and Install “Colossus Statue” of George Washington at National Museum of American History * The Gateway Pundit * by Jordan C
In a recent public statement, the former president called on the Smithsonian Institution to replace the abstract work that has stood before the National Museum of American History since 1967 with a 30‑foot statue honoring George Washington.\n\nThe existing piece, created by New York sculptor José de Rivera, is a sleek stainless‑steel loop titled Infinity. Its minimalist form has long been praised for its elegant gesture and its dialogue with the museum’s modernist architecture.\n\nThe proposal frames the sculpture as a "strange modernist" object that fails to convey a narrative of American heroes. The suggested replacement would be a monumental representation of Washington, intended to anchor a five‑year exhibition marking the 300th anniversary of his birth.\n\nCritics argue that swapping a celebrated work of mid‑century abstraction for a conventional heroic statue raises questions about how public institutions balance artistic merit, historical interpretation, and political pressure. The debate highlights ongoing tensions over the role of museums in shaping national memory.