US EditionTrump’s ‘Chilling Effect’ Is Coming for Museums, Historians Warn
President Trump directs a broad examination of federally funded museums to promote a positive view of history and reduce narratives he considers divisive, ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary.
- On August 15, the White House announced a content review of Smithsonian museums to align exhibits with President Trump's directive promoting American exceptionalism.
- This review follows Trump's criticism of museums as the last remaining segment of 'WOKE' and his instruction to attorneys to apply scrutiny like that done with colleges.
- Professional groups such as the American Alliance of Museums and the Organization of American Historians warned that the oversight risks politicizing history and narrowing public understanding.
- Smithsonian-Affiliated institutions drew 16.8 million visits last year and rely on about 62% federal funding, highlighting their cultural and financial significance.
- The administration's review may threaten museums' scholarly independence and public trust, provoking concerns over political interference in historical presentations.
55 Articles
55 Articles
Charlotte NAACP president encourages people to visit museums after Trump's comments on 'woke' history exhibits
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — President Trump is pushing the Justice Department to review American history exhibits at the nation's museums, similar to how he's taken on so-called "woke" college and universities. On his "Truth Social" platform, he accuses the Smithsonian Institution of focusing on how "horrible" the country is, and "how bad slavery was." The president believes museums do not focus on success or the future, saying "woke is …
Trump Is Right. The Federally-Funded Smithsonian Should Be Pro-American. – The American Spectator | USA News and Politics
As a general rule, my undergraduate degree in history hasn’t given me a greater appreciation for national museums dedicated to the topic. If anything, it’s made me overly skeptical of oversimplified stories told in pictures and posters, designed for mass consumption. It would be nice, perhaps, if we could trust museums to come up with unbiased versions of national tales. Hypothetically speaking, it’s possible. History is composed of facts — thin…
Defending the African American Museum of History and Culture is defending America’s truth
By Dr. Frances Murphy DraperAFRO Publisher and CEO America cannot afford to whitewash its past. Yet that is exactly what is at stake in the current review of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. To question whether slavery and racism belong in the story of this nation is not only dangerous—it is racist and, quite frankly, ridiculous. The Smithsonian Institution’s internal review of its museums and exhibitions, prompted by…
Scholar responds to Trump's efforts to reframe U.S. history
President Trump described Smithsonian museums as “out of control” for emphasizing, in his view, “how bad slavery was.” It's part of a pattern by Trump in his second term to reframe historical narratives, in particular about racism and discrimination. Amna Nawaz spoke with historian Peniel Joseph for our series, Art in Action, exploring the intersection of art and democracy and our CANVAS coverage.
Trump isn’t trying to ‘erase history’ at Smithsonian — he’s reversing a destructive woke takeover
But Trump isn’t trying to “erase history,” he’s looking to reverse a woke movement that has indeed rewritten the American story to highlight suffering rather than providing a balanced picture of our past.
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