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News18
12 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
'Out Of Control': Donald Trump Says US Museums Focus Too Much On 'How Bad Slavery Was'
Donald Trump criticized US museums for focusing on negative history, like slavery. US President Donald Trump accused American museums of focusing disproportionately on the darker chapters of the nation's past- including 'how bad slavery was." In a post on his Truth Social platform, Donald Trump said he had instructed his attorneys to review the country's museums, comparing the move to his ongoing crackdown on universities. 'The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been- Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future," Donald Trump wrote. Donald Trump's comments follow last week's White House announcement of an extensive review of the Smithsonian Institution, which oversees many of the nation's most prominent museums. In a letter to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, three senior aides to the president wrote that the initiative 'aims to ensure alignment with the US President's directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions." Museum scholars have raised concerns about the plan as Janet Marstine, a museum ethics expert, warned that the administration's demands 'set the Smithsonian up for failure," calling them unrealistic given the breadth of materials requested. The White House has asked the institution to produce everything from internal emails and memos to digital copies of all gallery placards currently on display. Earlier this year, Donald Trump issued an executive order assigning Vice President JD Vance- who sits on the Smithsonian's Board of Regents- to oversee efforts to halt federal funding for exhibits deemed out of step with the administration's agenda. The US President's latest stance marks a sharp departure from his first term, when he praised the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture during a 2017 visit. At the time, Donald Trump said he was 'deeply proud" of a museum that honored 'the millions of African American men and women who built our national heritage." Founded in the 1840s with funds from British scientist James Smithson's estate, the Smithsonian is a federally supported trust but not an executive branch agency. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Trump complains Smithsonian is too focused on 'how bad slavery was'
"The Museums throughout Washington, but all over the Country are, essentially, the last remaining segment of 'WOKE,' " Trump said in his post. "The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our Country is, how bad Slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been." More: Trump administration launches Smithsonian review to remove 'divisive' materials Trump added that the Smithsonian museums contain "Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future." "We are not going to allow this to happen," he said, comparing his review of the Smithsonian Institution to his administration's work to root out diversity, equity and inclusions initiatives from colleges and universities. "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." Federal funds make up about 62% of the annual budget of the Smithsonian, which is a public-private partnership established by Congress. The National Museum of African American History and Culture, which the Smithsonian opened in 2016, has comprehensive exhibits on the history of slavery in the United States beginning with the transatlantic slave trade. Trump's review is set to intially focus on eight Smithsonian museums. The list includes the National Museum of African American History and Culture, as well as the National Museum of American History; National Museum of Natural History; National Museum of the American Indian; National Air and Space Museum; Smithsonian American Art Museum; the National Portrait Gallery; and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. More: Civil rights leaders rally around National Museum of African American History White House officials announced the review in an Aug. 12 letter to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, writing that the initiative aims to "ensure alignment with the President's directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions." The letter stated that within 120 days, the Smithsonian is expected to begin making "content corrections where necessary, replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions." More: Trump's Smithsonian review will start with 8 out of 21 museums. Which ones? The review will focus on Smithsonian exhibits, along with the process for creating them. It is expected to be completed early next year, which is the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding. In a statement last week on the White House review, the Smithsonian said it would "continue to collaborate constructively with the White House." "The Smithsonian's work is grounded in a deep commitment to scholarly excellence, rigorous research, and the accurate, factual presentation of history. We are reviewing the letter with this commitment in mind," the statement reads. Contributing: Zac Anderson Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison.
Epoch Times
13-08-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
White House Orders Review of Smithsonian Exhibits Ahead of Nation's 250th Birthday
The White House on Tuesday ordered an internal review of selected Smithsonian museums and exhibitions to ensure all public-facing content aligns with President Donald Trump's directive to celebrate U.S. exceptionalism. In a letter sent to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, the White House outlined the steps it expects the organization to take in the review, including examining websites, social media content, and educational materials 'to assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals.'
RNZ News
13-08-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
White House orders review of Smithsonian museums and exhibits to ensure alignment with Trump directive
By Betsy Klein for CNN The National Museum of Natural History will be part of the first stage of the review. Photo: AFP / GARDEL BERTRAND / The White House is conducting a comprehensive internal review of exhibits and materials at the Smithsonian Institution - the organisation that runs the nation's major public museums - in an effort to comply with President Donald Trump's directive about what should and shouldn't be displayed. The initiative - a trio of top Trump aides wrote in a letter to Smithsonian Institution secretary Lonnie Bunch III - "aims to ensure alignment with the president's directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions". It marks the latest move by the Trump administration to impose the president's views on US cultural and historical institutions and purge materials focused on diversity. Earlier this year, Trump signed an executive order accusing the Smithsonian Institution of having "come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology" that has "promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive". Trump's action put Vice President JD Vance in charge of stopping government spending on "exhibits or programs that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy". The letter released Tuesday - signed by Trump aides Lindsey Halligan, the senior associate staff secretary; Vince Haley, the Domestic Policy Council director; and Russell Vought, the Office of Management and Budget director - says the review will focus on public-facing content, the curatorial process to understand how work is selected for exhibit, current and future exhibition planning, the use of existing materials and collections, and guidelines for narrative standards. Eight key, Washington, DC-based Smithsonian museums will be part of the first phase of the review: the National Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of the American Indian, the National Air and Space Museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Additional museums, the letter said, will be announced in a second phase. The Smithsonian said it was "reviewing" the letter, telling CNN in a statement it planned to work "constructively" with the White House. "The Smithsonian's work is grounded in a deep commitment to scholarly excellence, rigourous research, and the accurate, factual presentation of history. We are reviewing the letter with this commitment in mind and will continue to collaborate constructively with the White House, Congress, and our governing Board of Regents," the statement said. The Smithsonian American Art Museum on the National Mall. Photo: AFP / KEVIN DIETSCH The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum complex, including 21 museums and the National Zoo. Nearly 17 million people visited Smithsonian properties last year, according to the museum's website. Admission at nearly all the museums is free. The Smithsonian began a review of its own in June, and has repeatedly stressed its commitment to being non-partisan. The institution told CNN in July that it was committed to an "unbiased presentation of facts and history" and that it would "make any necessary changes to ensure our content meets our standards". The letter calls on each museum to designate a point of contact to provide details on plans for programming to highlight the country's 250th anniversary. It also asks for a full catalogue of all current and ongoing exhibitions and budgets, a list of all travelling exhibitions and plans for the next three years, and all internal guidelines, including staff manuals, job descriptions, and organizational charts, along with internal communications about exhibition artwork selection and approval. That material is due within 30 days, with "on-site observational visits" and walkthroughs expected. Within 75 days, Trump administration officials will schedule and conduct "voluntary interviews with curators and senior staff". And within 120 days, museums "should begin implementing content corrections where necessary, replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions across placards, wall didactics, digital displays, and other public-facing materials". Last month, the National Museum of American History removed a temporary placard referencing Trump's two impeachments from an exhibit related to the presidency, prompting public outcry against the museum and claims it was capitulating to Trump. In follow-up statements, the museum system insisted the placard's removal was temporary and denied it had been pressured by any government official to make changes to its exhibits. It was reinstalled days ago, with some changes. The exhibit now is set up in a way that places information about Trump's two impeachments in a lower spot, with some changes to the placard's text. - CNN
Fox News
13-08-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
White House reviewing all Smithsonian museum, exhibit content before America 250 celebration in 2026
The Trump administration is cracking down on the Smithsonian Institution ahead of America's 250th anniversary celebration next year, requiring specific national museums and affiliated exhibits to "reflect the unity, progress, and enduring values that define the American story." In a letter penned to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, Trump administration officials laid out a review process that the institution will undergo in order to ensure alignment with President Donald Trump's "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" executive order. "This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the President's directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions," the letter reads. The following museums are included during Phase I of the comprehensive internal review: the National Museums of American History, Natural History, African American History and Culture, and American Indian; the National Air and Space Museum; the Smithsonian American Art Museum; the National Portrait Gallery and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. The administration said the review is "rooted in respect" for the institution's mission and contributions, and the goal is not to interfere with daily operations, but to highlight "historically accurate, uplifting, and inclusive portrayals of America's heritage." The review has five focus points, ranging from an analysis of current and future content within exhibitions at the museums to ensuring that all guidelines for museum content reflect the "Smithsonian's original mission." Museum curators and senior staff will also be interviewed to "better understand the selection process, exhibition approval workflows, and any frameworks currently guiding exhibition content." The administration is also asking that the aforementioned museums provide them with all materials – including digital files – for current, upcoming and traveling exhibitions; educational resources; external partnerships; grant-related documentation; survey responses; and internal guidelines and governance. All of those items will be reviewed by staff tasked with ensuring the institution aligns with Trump's order. A 120-day implementation guideline was given, but the museums are expected to act on some parts of the process within 30 days of receiving the letter from the administration. The immediate tasks include submitting current exhibition descriptions, draft plans for upcoming shows, America 250 programming materials, and internal guidelines used in exhibition development. The museums will also choose a staff liaison to serve as the primary contact point during the review process, which will also include on-site observational visits. Within 120 days, the museums will be expected to implement corrections to content, if needed, and to replace any "divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions." The Trump administration anticipates completing the review in early 2026 and described the process as "a collaborative and forward-looking opportunity" that focuses on "the strength, breadth, and achievements of the American story." "By focusing on Americanism—the people, principles, and progress that define our nation—we can work together to renew the Smithsonian's role as the world's leading museum institution," the letter read. It concluded by saying that the goal is for the Smithsonian Institution to remain "vibrant, trusted and inspiring for generations to come."
