Trump Demands Smithsonian Replace 'Strange Modernist' Sculpture With 30-Foot 'Washington Colossus'

President Donald Trump has escalated his long-running battle with the Smithsonian Institution, calling for a 30-foot statue of George Washington to replace a decades-old abstract sculpture outside the National Museum of American History. But whether he has the legal authority to order such a change remains unclear.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump demanded Friday that the Smithsonian Institution remove a 1967 modernist sculpture from outside the National Museum of American History and replace it with a towering 30-foot statue of George Washington, in his latest effort to reshape how the nation's history is presented .

The sculpture, titled "Infinity," is a rotating stainless-steel ribbon designed by abstract artist José de Rivera and has stood at the museum's south entrance since 1967. It was the first work of modern art commissioned by the U.S. government for the National Mall .

"That strange modernist sculpture tells visitors nothing about America, inspires no one, and honors none of our Great American Heroes," Trump wrote on Truth Social late Friday . "George Washington does. He is easily America's Greatest Hero. Without him, our Country and our Freedoms wouldn't exist" .

A 'Colossus' and a Five-Year Tribute

In a flurry of late-night posts, Trump laid out a series of demands for the Smithsonian:

• An 11-foot Washington statue should be installed in the museum's Flag Hall by Constitution Day, September 17, 2026. The statue previously appeared at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix race in Washington .

"Replace a sculpture that says nothing about America with the man who, more than anyone else, says everything about America," Trump wrote .

The Smithsonian's Independence

It remains unclear whether Trump has the authority to order the Smithsonian to make these changes. The institution operates outside the executive branch and is overseen by a Board of Regents that includes Vice President JD Vance, Chief Justice John Roberts, bipartisan lawmakers, and citizen members .

The Smithsonian did not immediately respond to requests for comment .

A Broader Campaign

Trump's demands are part of a broader effort to reshape the Smithsonian, which he has accused of promoting "woke" ideology and rewriting American history on issues of race and gender .

In March 2025, Trump signed an executive order targeting what the White House called "divisive narratives" and "improper ideology" at the institution . The administration later issued a 162-page report accusing Smithsonian leadership of "consistently denigrating and displacing whites, males, Christians, and Americans" .

In July 2026, Trump ordered the installation of temporary signage outside the National Museum of American History to "correct inaccurate information" in its exhibits .

Trump also criticized the museum's recently ended Center for Restorative History — an initiative focused on stories historically excluded from the national narrative — and proposed replacing it with a "Center for American Heroes" .

Leadership Shakeup

The demands come just days after Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III announced he will step down at the end of 2026. Bunch, the first African American to lead the institution, said he would "continue to fight" for the Smithsonian's independence until his departure .

Bunch has said the administration's pressure did not prompt his retirement, but he acknowledged that "we're at a time when people are challenging that independence" .

Critical Response

Historians and civil rights advocates have pushed back against the administration's efforts to influence the Smithsonian. In July 2026, the American Historical Association defended the institution as "academically rigorous" and accused the White House of promoting "narrow patriotism" that limits accurate historical facts .

Civil rights organizations have expressed particular concern about the potential erasure of Black history. The National Urban League said the administration "has repeatedly abused its power and distorted our history to fit a false narrative," creating a "dangerous precedent for future generations" .

The battle over the Smithsonian reflects a broader ideological struggle over how America tells its own story — and who gets to decide. For Trump, the answer begins with a 30-foot statue of George Washington. Whether the Smithsonian must comply is another question entirely.

This article is based on reporting from the New York Post, Fox News, The Washington Post, ARTnews, and other sources as of September 14, 2026.