Key facts
- Donald Trump requested the Smithsonian Institution install a 30-foot "Colossus statue" of George Washington outside the National Museum of American History.
- Trump also asked for a special exhibit honoring George Washington to run through February 2032, marking the 300th anniversary of his birth.
- Trump criticized the Smithsonian's current focus on oppression and division, advocating for a "Center for American Heroes."
- The Smithsonian operates outside the executive branch, overseen by a board of regents.
- Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch announced he will step down by the end of the year.
President Donald Trump requested the Smithsonian Institution install a 30-foot "Colossus statue" of George Washington outside the National Museum of American History and a special exhibit honoring the nation’s first president. Trump made the request on social media, criticizing the museum's focus on oppression and division, and advocating for a "Center for American Heroes."
The proposed exhibit would run through February 2032, marking the 300th anniversary of Washington’s birth. Trump also requested an 11-foot statue of Washington, previously featured at the Freedom 250 IndyCar race, be installed in the museum’s Flag Hall. The statue would replace the current Infinity sculpture by José de Rivera.
This is the latest in a series of critiques from Trump regarding the Smithsonian. His administration previously issued a report accusing the museum of focusing too much on oppression rather than shared national achievements, and he had ordered signs be displayed accusing the institution of inaccuracy, though these have not yet appeared. Historians and civil rights advocates have denounced Trump's actions.
The Smithsonian operates outside the executive branch, overseen by a board of regents, and its secretary, Lonnie Bunch, announced he will step down by the end of the year. Bunch has previously emphasized the importance of the institution's independence.