Trump Demands Smithsonian Install George Washington Statues and Exhibit

President Trump urges Smithsonian to install George Washington statues and exhibit, sparking debate over historical narratives.

Editorial Desk

September 12, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump has called on the Smithsonian Institution to install a colossal statue of George Washington outside the National Museum of American History and create a special exhibit honoring the nation’s first president.

In late Friday night social media posts, Trump asked for an exhibit beginning now and continuing through Feb. 22, 2032, the 300th anniversary of Washington’s birth. He also requested the installation of an 11-foot statue of Washington featured at the recent Freedom 250 IndyCar race in the museum’s Flag Hall.

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Trump criticized the museum for not highlighting Washington’s famous Delaware River crossing during the Revolutionary War and proposed replacing the current “Infinity” sculpture with a 30-foot statue of Washington. The Smithsonian operates outside the executive branch, and its leadership is overseen by a Board of Regents that includes Vice President JD Vance and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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