President Trump on Tuesday expressed dissatisfaction, claiming that the Smithsonian museums in Washington portrayed the nation negatively, particularly in relation to slavery.
“The Museums throughout Washington, but all over the Country are, essentially, the last remaining segment of ‘WOKE,'” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, focusing only on how terrible our Country is, emphasizing the grimness of Slavery, and ignoring the achievements of those who have struggled,” he stated, adding that there was “Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future.”
“We won’t let this continue, and I have directed my lawyers to review the Museums, initiating a process like the one applied to Colleges and Universities, which has already yielded significant progress,” Trump wrote. “This Country cannot be WOKE, because WOKE IS BROKE.”
Rep. Joe Morelle (R-N.Y.), the leading Democrat on the House Administration Committee that oversees the Smithsonian, countered Trump’s remarks, stating that anyone unfamiliar with a museum might trivialize comments about “‘How bad slavery was.'”
The White House recently began a review of Smithsonian museums to align them with Trump’s mandate to “celebrate American exceptionalism, eliminate divisive or partisan narratives, and bolster confidence in our collective cultural venues.”
The directive advised eight of the Smithsonian’s museums, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of American History, the National Portrait Gallery, and the National Museum of the American Indian, to swap exhibits containing “divisive or ideologically driven” content with material that is “unifying, historically accurate.”
In a statement, the Smithsonian said its work “is grounded in a deep commitment to scholarly excellence, rigorous research, and the accurate, factual presentation of history.”
The Smithsonian’s 21 museums contain numerous exhibits covering a wide array of topics. Among them are the nation’s history with slavery, technological advancements in space and flight, America’s various military campaigns and the evolution of the entertainment industry.
The Smithsonian came under scrutiny earlier this month after it removed a display that highlighted Trump’s impeachment cases. The display at the National Museum of American History was later restored and updated version with information about Trump’s impeachments.
Trump has used the power of the presidency to target numerous institutions he disagrees with during his second term so far, including colleges and universities and law firms.
Updated on Aug. 20 at 8:32 a.m. EDT
