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Trump Asks Smithsonian to Install George Washington Statues and Exhibit

Trump wants a five-year Washington exhibit and new statues as the White House presses the Smithsonian to highlight national heroes over slavery and oppression.

  • On Friday, President Donald Trump demanded the Smithsonian Institution install an 11-foot statue of George Washington in the Flag Hall by Constitution Day, September 17, 2026, followed by a 30-foot "Washington Colossus."
  • Trump's administration has accused the Smithsonian of emphasizing slavery and oppression at the expense of national achievements, prompting his push for a five-year exhibition honoring Washington through his 300th birthday in 2032.
  • Trump argued Washington "is easily America's GREATEST HERO," saying the abstract "Infinity" sculpture "says nothing about America" and should be replaced with the proposed monument honoring the nation's first president.
  • Smithsonian chief Lonnie Bunch announced this week he is stepping down at year's end after nearly 50 years, following months of tension between the institution and the Trump administration over exhibitions.
  • The Smithsonian operates independently under a Board of Regents, though it remains unclear whether Trump can directly order the museum to make the changes he has demanded.
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ReutersReuters
+4 Reposted by 4 other sources
Center

Trump criticizes Smithsonian's focus on oppression

President Donald Trump criticized what he called the Smithsonian's overwhelming focus ​on oppression on Friday and called for a five-year exhibition on George Washington, in ‌his latest critique of an institution he has repeatedly attacked.

·London, United Kingdom
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Lean Right

The U.S. president proposes to install a large Washington sculpture in the Smithsonian to highlight his historical legacy. He criticizes the museum for failing to adequately celebrate the country’s founders, accusing an agenda that displaces certain identities.

·Buenos Aires, Argentina
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WTVB broke the news on Friday, September 11, 2026.
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