Trump Demands Removal of 'Infinity' Sculpture for Washington

President Donald Trump has called for the removal of a kinetic sculpture at the National Museum of American History to be replaced by a monumental statue of George Washington. He made the demands in a series of Truth Social posts late Friday, also requesting a special exhibition to run through February 22, 2032, the 300th anniversary of Washington's birth.

Trump specifically targeted Infinity, a work by New York artist José de Rivera. The sculpture was dedicated in 1967 and sits at the museum's south entrance. "Replace a sculpture that says nothing about America with the man who, more than anyone else, says everything about America," Trump said. He described Washington as "easily America's Greatest Hero."

The Target: 'Infinity' Sculpture

Infinity was the first modern art piece commissioned by the U.S. Government under the Art and Architecture Program for the National Mall. The sculpture consists of a polished stainless steel ribbon atop a black granite base. It has rotated continuously since its installation, completing one full revolution every six minutes. José de Rivera, whose public artworks are found across the country, died in 1985.

Trump criticized the work directly. "That strange modernist sculpture tells visitors nothing about America, inspires no one, and honors none of our Great American Heroes," he posted.

Demands for a Founding Father Focus

In his posts, Trump accused the Smithsonian of failing to properly honor the nation's founding fathers during the 250th anniversary of independence. He claimed the museum does not mention "Washington's Heroic Crossing of the Delaware on December 25, 1776," which he called a turning point of the Revolution.

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History's collection, however, contains several items depicting the event. These include a colored print by Thomas Kelly, a colored print based on Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze's famous 1850 painting, an 1853 engraving also based on Leutze's work, and a 2021 U.S. Quarter.

Trump further criticized the institution's scholarly direction under recently retired Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III. He cited a "Center for Restorative History" and a "Decolonization Plan" as evidence the museum focuses "overwhelmingly on those who have been oppressed" while ignoring "those who triumphed." He singled out an exhibit describing 1492 to 1776 as the "Great Unsettling." "That tells you all you need to know about how twisted the thinking is today at the Smithsonian," Trump added.

Authority and Precedent for Removal

It is unclear if Trump possesses the direct authority to remove Infinity, as the Smithsonian operates independently of the executive branch. However, the institution receives significant federal funding and is overseen by a Board of Regents that includes Vice President JD Vance, who has led administration interventions in museum operations.

The demand follows a pattern where Trump has bypassed traditional congressional approval for cultural changes. A divided Supreme Court recently allowed his ballroom project, which would replace the Capitol's East Wing, to proceed. Dissenting justices called its construction "likely unlawful." Separately, a towering blue sculpture by Joel Shapiro was dismantled after being on view at the Kennedy Center since 2019. The center did not explain the removal, though Shapiro's daughter told the Times the artist would have been "alarmed." The work was ultimately purchased by the center's former chairman, David Rubenstein.

Trump proposed that the new 30-foot Washington statue be erected on September 17, Constitution Day. An 11-foot version of the statue was recently displayed in the museum's Flag Hall during the Freedom 250 IndyCar race.