Trump demands Smithsonian swap abstract sculpture for 30-foot Washington
Donald Trump has demanded that the Smithsonian take down an abstract sculpture outside its history museum in Washington, D.C. and replace it with a 30-foot statue of George Washington.
The sculpture at the centre of the row is "Infinity." It is an abstract work by José de Rivera, made from looping metal forms rather than a recognisable figure, The New York Times reported on 12 September 2026. Abstract here means non-representational. The shapes suggest movement and continuity rather than telling a literal story.
The piece has a long history in the capital. It was dedicated in 1967 and stands outside the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., The Hill reported. That puts it on the doorstep of one of the most visited museums in the United States, where families and school groups pass each year. It has greeted visitors for almost 60 years.
Trump used blunt language about the work. He described it as "strange modernist," according to ARTnews, which reported his demand on 13 September 2026. Modernist in this context refers to 20th-century art that broke with traditional, lifelike styles. He said it should be replaced.
The replacement he proposed would be hard to miss. It would be a 30-foot-tall "Colossus" depicting Washington, People reported. Thirty feet is about three storeys high. The use of the word Colossus points to sheer size. No artist, cost or timetable was included in the verified reports.
The idea connects to a broader statue project. President Donald J. Trump will create a new outdoor "National Garden of American Heroes" park featuring statues of 250 American heroes, according to a White House fact sheet published on 3 July 2025. That garden was previewed as part of plans for the 250th birthday of the United States. The number matches the milestone. Two hundred and fifty statues for 250 years.
For readers keeping track, the timeline is tight. Reporting on the proposal emerged on 12 September, with the demand language reported in full on 13 September 2026. What makes this stand out is the contrast in scale and style. One is a 1960s abstract work you can walk past. The other would tower overhead. For now, the verified reports describe "Infinity" as still standing outside the history museum. It is the kind of public-art debate that catches the eye, because it is about what greets you before you even walk through the doors.
