By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-09-13 02:06:37 | Updated at 2026-09-13 03:04:01
1 hour ago
The federal government dedicated “Infinity” in 1967. It stands outside the National Museum of American History in Washington. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times
President Donald Trump urged the Smithsonian Institution to replace the sculpture outside the National Museum of American History with a 30-foot-tall statue of George Washington.
In a Truth Social post on Sept. 11, Trump described the “Infinity” sculpture by artist Jose de Rivera as “strange modernist,” saying it “tells visitors nothing about America” and “honors none of our Great American Heroes.”
The federal government dedicated “Infinity” in 1967 under the Lyndon Johnson administration.
Trump said the Smithsonian should instead erect a colossal statue of Washington outside the museum and called for a five-year exhibition honoring the life and legacy of the nation’s first president.
“He is easily America’s Greatest Hero. Without him, our Country and our Freedoms wouldn’t exist,” the president said of Washington.
Trump said the museum had failed to give Washington and other U.S. founding fathers “the celebration they deserve” during the nation’s 250th anniversary.
“Washington’s Heroic Crossing of the Delaware on December 25, 1776—One of the greatest moments and turning points of the Revolution—is not even mentioned in the Museum,” Trump said.
“His Victory at Trenton, and the stories of the Americans who fought and died for our Independence, deserve far more attention.”
Trump accused the institution of directing attention to “those who have been oppressed” rather than those “who triumphed over great oppression.” Instead of the Center for Restorative History, he said the museum should create “a center for American Heroes.”
He suggested that the museum hold the exhibition through Feb. 22, 2032, which will mark the 300th anniversary of Washington’s birth.
In a separate post, Trump also asked the institution to erect an 11-foot-tall statue of Washington, featured at the Freedom 250 Grand Prix Race in the museum’s Flag Hall, and dedicate it on Constitution Day, Sept. 17.
“Replace a sculpture that says nothing about America with the man who, more than anyone else, says everything about America,” he wrote. “This is how we should begin to honor George Washington in the lead-up to his 300th birthday in 2032.”
The Epoch Times reached out to the Smithsonian Institution for comment and did not receive a response by the time of publication.
In July, the White House Domestic Policy Council released a report accusing the institute’s leaders of adopting an ideological framework and saying the museum failed to highlight America’s founder and founding in its exhibits.
In response to the report, a Smithsonian spokesperson previously told The Epoch Times that the institution “has served the American public with nonpartisan and independent scholarship” for more than 180 years and will remain “committed to doing so.”
Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch announced on Sept. 8 that he will retire from his position by the end of the year.
