Trump Demands Smithsonian Install Washington Statues, Exhibit

President Donald Trump has publicly demanded the Smithsonian Institution install new George Washington statues and create a five-year exhibition honoring the nation's first president, escalating his ongoing campaign to reshape the narrative of American history at the federally funded museum complex. In a series of posts on Truth Social late Friday, September 11, Trump called for the immediate installation of an 11-foot Washington statue in the National Museum of American History's Flag Hall, to be dedicated on Constitution Day, September 17, 2026. He also demanded the museum erect a 30-foot "Washington Colossus" outside the building, replacing the abstract "Infinity" sculpture that has stood at the entrance since 1967. Additionally, Trump requested a five-year exhibition on Washington's life and legacy, beginning immediately and running through February 22, 2032, the 300th anniversary of Washington's birth. He criticized the museum for failing to adequately honor Washington and other Founding Fathers during the nation's 250th anniversary year, noting that Washington's crossing of the Delaware River is not mentioned in the museum.