Trump Pressures Smithsonian to Install 'Colossus' George Washington Statue

President Trump has demanded that the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History install a statue of George Washington called 'Colossus.' The demand, reported by The New York Times on September 12, 2026, is the president's latest attack on the museum. It reflects his longstanding desire for what he calls 'patriotic' history. The Smithsonian has not publicly responded to the request. The proposed statue's design, artist, and funding source remain unspecified. The National Museum of American History is located in Washington, D.C., and is part of the Smithsonian Institution. The demand raises questions about political interference in the museum's curatorial independence. No timeline for the installation has been announced.