Trump Demands Removal of José de Rivera's Infinity from Smithsonian for George Washington Statue

President Donald Trump has called for the removal of José de Rivera's modernist sculpture Infinity from outside the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., and its replacement with a monumental statue of George Washington. The demands were made via posts on Truth Social, specifying that the statue be installed on September 17, Constitution Day, and that an exhibition honoring Washington open immediately and run through February 22, 2032, the 300th anniversary of his birth. Infinity, a 13.5-foot-tall stainless steel Möbius strip that rotates every six minutes, has stood facing the National Mall since 1967 and was the first abstract work commissioned by the federal government in Washington. The proposed Washington statue, 11 feet tall, recently appeared at the Freedom 250 IndyCar race in the museum's Flag Hall. Trump's directive aligns with his broader efforts to reshape federally funded cultural institutions, including the Kennedy Centre. The Smithsonian has not yet responded publicly, and it remains uncertain whether it will comply with the specific dates. The potential replacement would mark a shift from abstract to figurative public art on the National Mall.