President Donald Trump has proposed the installation of a 30-foot statue of George Washington outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, calling Washington "America’s Greatest Hero." Trump believes that without Washington, "our Country and our Freedoms wouldn’t exist." This proposal is part of a broader set of changes he has urged the Smithsonian Institution to make in preparation for Washington’s 300th birthday in 2032. Among these changes is replacing a three-dimensional infinity symbol sculpture with the new Washington statue. Trump also suggested placing an 11-foot Washington statue in the museum’s Flag Hall, to be dedicated on Constitution Day, and organizing a five-year exhibition dedicated to Washington’s "Life and Legacy." Trump has criticized the museum for not adequately celebrating Washington and other Founding Fathers during the nation’s 250th anniversary this summer. He specifically pointed out the absence of a display about Washington’s 1776 crossing of the Delaware River. Trump accused the Smithsonian of presenting a "twisted" version of U.S. history, arguing that the museum focuses too much on victims of oppression rather than those who overcame adversity. He believes the museum should focus on "telling America’s story—fairly, accurately, and coherently," beginning with Washington. This proposal came three days after Lonnie Bunch, the first Black secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, announced her intention to step down. Her decision followed a White House report two months earlier that criticized Smithsonian officials, especially those at the National Museum of American History, as "untrustworthy radical activists." Bunch rejected the report, stating that it was not a "fair characterization" of the institution or its staff. Trump’s efforts to reshape the nation’s historical narrative have extended beyond the Smithsonian. Since issuing his 2025 executive order, "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," the administration has pushed for changes across federal institutions. These include removing so-called "woke" displays at the Bunker Hill Monument in Massachusetts and a plaque critical of the Confederacy at Arlington National Cemetery. While the White House argues these actions correct a distorted account of U.S. history, critics claim the administration is attempting to "whitewash" the past. In addition to these historical initiatives, Trump has also advanced plans to physically reshape Washington, D.C., including constructing a large White House ballroom and planning a 250-foot victory arch along the Potomac River.