Trump asks Smithsonian to install George Washington statues and exhibit
President Donald Trump has urged the Smithsonian to install a large statue of George Washington outside the National Museum of American History and a special exhibit celebrating the first U.S. president. In a series of late-night posts on social media, Trump called for the 11-foot statue to be placed in the museum's Flag Hall and a 30-foot version to replace the existing "Infinity" sculpture.
Trump also requested that the museum open a "Center for American Heroes" as a replacement for the recently discontinued "Center for Restorative History." The museum, which is overseen by a Board of Regents, is not under the direct control of the executive branch, and it remains unclear if Trump has the authority to mandate these changes.
Trump appeared to be frustrated that the museum does not prominently feature Washington's famous crossing of the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War. The White House has been critical of the Smithsonian for not adequately highlighting the contributions of George Washington and other founding figures.
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