In a new display of authority and strength in enforcing his political agenda, Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he has initiated a thorough review of the museums that are part of the Smithsonian Institution, as according to his perspective, there is an “imbalance in the historical narrative” presented to the public due to an excessively critical view of American history, such as with slavery.
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The Institute manages more than 20 museums, most of them in Washington D.C. and offer free admission, making them one of the main cultural, educational, and touristic attractions in the United States.
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What did Trump say against the Smithsonian Museums?
In a post on his social media, Trump stated that "the Smithsonian is out of control," and criticized that the exhibits “everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been.” According to the president, museums should also highlight the achievements and advancements of the country.
“The Museums throughout Washington, but all over the Country are, essentially, the last remaining segment of ‘WOKE’,” wrote the president against the progressive cultural movement that the American right criticizes so much.
Trump added that he has instructed his legal team to initiate a review process similar to the one already being applied to universities and educational centers, with the goal of reformulating institutional content. “This Country cannot be WOKE, because WOKE IS BROKE. We have the ‘HOTTEST’ Country in the World, and we want people to talk about it, including in our Museums,” he stated.
How will the White House intervene the museums?
The Smithsonian, at the moment, has not issued official statements regarding this review. However, reports from last week published by ABC News revealed that the White House already had planned an audit process focused on the exhibitions and general management of the institution as part of the preparations for the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States in 2026.
In a letter sent to the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Lonnie Bunch, the Trump administration indicated its intention to ensure that the exhibits “reflect the unity, progress, and enduring values that define American history.” According to CNN, the letter details that the review will include public-oriented content, curatorial processes that determine which materials are exhibited, as well as the planning of future exhibitions and the use of existing resources and collections.
According to government sources, the review will focus on eight key museums of the institution: the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
Last March, Trump signed an executive order instructing Vice President JD Vance and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to intervene in the Smithsonian to “eliminate inappropriate ideology” present in its spaces.
According to ABC News, their team recently accessed the rooms of the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, documenting with photographs various exhibits about slavery, segregation, and the civil rights movement.
What is the Smithsonian Institution?
The Institute, founded in 1846 thanks to the donation of British scientist James Smithson, is headquartered in Washington D.C. from where it oversees 21 museums and the National Zoo. Most of them are located on the National Mall, the park that connects the Capitol with the Lincoln Memorial.
Last year, the most visited museum was the Natural History Museum, with 3.9 million visitors, followed by the American History Museum, with 2.1 million visitors.