Latest news with #SmithsonianMuseumofAmericanHistory
Japan Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Today
White House orders review of exhibits at Smithsonian museums ahead of nation's 250th birthday
FILE - People visit the Smithsonian Museum of American History on the National Mall in Washington, April 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File) By ANNIE MA The White House is ordering a wide-ranging review of the Smithsonian museums and exhibitions ahead of the country's 250th birthday with a goal of aligning the institution's content with President Donald Trump's interpretation of American history. In a letter sent Tuesday to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, the White House laid out in detail the steps it expects the organization to take as part of the announced review. The examination will look at all public-facing content, such as social media, exhibition text and educational materials, to 'assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals,' according to the letter. '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 said. The Smithsonian said it remained committed to 'scholarly excellence, rigorous 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,' it said in a statement. The review, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, is the latest attempt by the president to bring the country's cultural institutions in line with his vision. In March, Trump signed an executive order titled 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,' which accused the Smithsonian of coming under the influence of a 'divisive, race-centered ideology' and called upon it to 'remove improper ideology' from the institution's museums. In February, Trump removed the Kennedy Center's Board of Trustees, replaced them with his supporters and named himself chairman. He vowed to end events featuring performers in drag, indicating he would take on a larger role in dictating the institution's programming schedule. The review of the Smithsonian will initially focus on eight museums — 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. The letter said additional museums would be reviewed in subsequent phases. Civil rights leaders have criticized the administration's particular focus on the National Museum of African American History and Culture as efforts to minimize Black Americans' contributions to the country and to recast the obstacles they faced throughout history. The Smithsonian has repeatedly denied allegations that it has changed or removed exhibit details in response to pressure from the administration. Recently, the institution removed references to Trump's two impeachments from an exhibit on the American presidency. A spokesman for the museum said the references, which were added in 2021, were intended to be a temporary measure and said a future exhibit would include details on all presidential impeachments. The review ordered by the White House directs the museums to submit materials from exhibits and drafts for upcoming events within 30 days. Within 120 days, the letter said, museums will be expected to take corrective action, 'replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions." © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Toronto Sun
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
Smithsonian to restore Trump impeachment exhibit ‘in the coming weeks'
Published Aug 03, 2025 • 2 minute read People visit the Smithsonian Museum of American History on the National Mall in Washington, April 3, 2019. Photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP The Smithsonian said on Saturday that it would restore information about President Donald Trump's two impeachments to an exhibit in the National Museum of American History within weeks. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The Washington Post reported on Thursday that in July, the museum removed a placard describing Trump's impeachments and reverted the exhibit to how it looked in 2008. That display – a glass case dominated by a file cabinet damaged in the Watergate break-in – says that 'only three presidents have seriously faced removal': Andrew Johnson, Richard M. Nixon and Bill Clinton. The placard mentioning Trump was removed from the exhibition, 'The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden,' after what the Smithsonian called a 'review' of 'legacy content.' A person familiar with the exhibit plans, who was not authorized to discuss them publicly, previously told The Post the placard was removed as part of a content review the Smithsonian undertook following pressure from the White House to remove an art museum director. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. As the keeper of memory for the nation, it is our privilege and responsibility to tell accurate and complete histories. As has been recently reported, in July, a placard was removed from @amhistorymuseum's exhibit 'The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden.' The intent of the… — Smithsonian (@smithsonian) August 2, 2025 'We were not asked by any Administration or other government official to remove content from the exhibit,' the Smithsonian said in a statement Saturday. 'The section in question, Impeachment, will be updated in the coming weeks to reflect all impeachment proceedings in our nation's history.' Before it was removed last month, the placard had been on display since September 2021, according to a Smithsonian spokesperson. It read, 'Case under redesign (history happens),' and mentioned Trump's two impeachments, as well as details about the other three presidents. In 2019, Trump was charged by the House with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress for his attempts to pressure the Ukrainian government to investigate Joe Biden. Two years later, he became the first president to be impeached twice when the House charged him with inciting an insurrection during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The Senate acquitted Trump both times, so he was never removed from office. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trump has attempted to exert influence over prominent cultural institutions in his second term, taking over the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, making drastic changes at the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, and imposing budget cuts on the National Park Service. In March, he signed an executive order to eliminate 'anti-American ideology' across the Smithsonian museums and 'restore the Smithsonian Institution to its rightful place as a symbol of inspiration and American greatness.' National Museum of American History spokeswoman Valeska Hilbig told The Post that removing the placard was the only change it made as a result of its content review. In Saturday's statement, the Smithsonian defended its decision to remove the placard even as it promised to quickly add Trump's impeachments back to the exhibit. 'The placard, which was meant to be a temporary addition to a twenty-five year-old exhibition, did not meet the museum's standards in appearance, location, timeline, and overall presentation,' the statement said. 'It was not consistent with other sections in the exhibit and moreover blocked the view of the objects inside its case. For these reasons, we removed the placard.' Toronto Blue Jays Sunshine Girls Homes Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA
