Trump Demands 30-Foot 'Washington Colossus' at Smithsonian
Trump Demands 30-Foot 'Washington Colossus' at Smithsonian
The News
President Donald Trump is demanding the Smithsonian pull an abstract sculpture out of its National Museum of American History and replace it with a 30-foot "Washington Colossus" honoring the first president.
He laid out the plan in a late-night post on Truth Social on Friday.
The demand comes days after Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch announced he is stepping down, following a months-long fight with the Trump administration over the institution's exhibits.
What Trump Asked For
First, that the museum install in its Flag Hall an 11-foot statue of George Washington that was featured at the recent Freedom 250 Grand Prix race, and dedicate it on Constitution Day, Sept. 17, 2026.
Second, that the Smithsonian "immediately design and display a five-year exhibition worthy of the Life, Sacrifice, and Contributions of George Washington."
Third, that it "install a 30-foot Washington Colossus where 'Infinity' stands today" — a reference to the abstract rotating stainless steel sculpture at the museum's main entrance, which the Washington Examiner reported stands at the venue's main door.
"Replace a sculpture that says nothing about America with the man who, more than anyone else, says everything about America," Trump wrote. "This is how we should begin to honor George Washington in the lead-up to his 300th birthday in 2032."
Timeline
The French studio Atelier Missor posts that it built the bronze George Washington statue for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C. The New Republic has described Atelier Missor as a right-wing French sculptor, according to Mediaite.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and White House domestic policy assistant Vince Haley say federal departments and agencies could cut off relations with the Smithsonian if it keeps advancing "a divisive, ideological agenda." The White House had previously suggested it could pull the roughly $1 billion in federal funding the institution receives.
Bunch announces he plans to step down as Smithsonian secretary. Mediaite reports he is set to leave at the end of the year after nearly 50 years at the institution.
Trump posts the statue and exhibition demands on Truth Social, then follows minutes later with a second post calling Washington "easily America's GREATEST HERO," adding, "Without him, our Country and our Freedoms wouldn't exist."
Reactions
Bunch has defended the Smithsonian against the administration's accusations, saying they are "not a fair characterization of the work and totality of the National Museum of American History."
"At the Smithsonian, our work is driven by scholarship, accuracy and an uncompromising commitment to tell the fullness of America's story," Bunch wrote, adding that the institution remains "focused on what grounds us: a steadfast commitment to scholarship, nonpartisanship, independence, accuracy, and integrity."
Mediaite called the post "bizarre," noting Trump is dictating what the institution should display six years from now — long past the expected end of his second term.
Raw Story noted that Trump has repeatedly posted AI-generated images on Truth Social showing himself alongside Washington, including one giving Washington a tour of a White House East Wing ballroom that has not been built.
What's Next
The nearest date on Trump's list is Constitution Day, Sept. 17, when he wants the 11-foot statue dedicated in Flag Hall. The Colossus he wants installed "as soon as it is ready," with the 2032 tricentennial of Washington's birth as the target.
None of the three reports cited a Smithsonian response to Friday night's post. Bunch is due to leave at the end of the year, which will hand the fight to a successor.
More
The Smithsonian is a sprawling operation — 21 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, and research and education centers — and it takes in roughly $1 billion in federal money, about 62% of its total funding, according to the Washington Examiner. That dependence is the leverage behind the pressure campaign.
Trump has battled the institution throughout his second term, accusing it of pushing "woke" ideology instead of a straightforward portrayal of American history. Mediaite reported the statue demand follows Trump boasting about another statue installed earlier this year: a Christopher Columbus monument placed in front of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building next to the White House.
Poll
Should the Smithsonian replace "Infinity" with a 30-foot statue of George Washington?
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