articleFILE-The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
President Donald Trump is accusing the Smithsonian Institution of focusing on “how bad slavery was” and not about the “brightness” of the U.S.
Trump’s comments come a week after the White House ordered a review of Smithsonian museums and exhibits on Aug. 12 ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday.
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“The Museums throughout Washington, but all over the Country are, essentially, the last remaining segment of “WOKE,” Trump wrote. 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. We are not going to allow this to happen, and I have instructed my attorneys to go through the Museums and start the exact same process that has been done with Colleges and Universities where tremendous progress has been made. 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.”
Smithsonian museums under review by White House
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Last week, the White House ordered a review of the Smithsonian museums and exhibitions ahead of the country’s 250th birthday with a goal of adapting the organization’s content with President Donald Trump’s view of American history.
According to the Associated Press, the White House examination focuses 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.
A White House letter sent on Aug. 12 to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, which was obtained by the Associated Press, states that the Smithsonian is required to provide materials from exhibits and drafts for upcoming events within 30 days. In a letter, obtained by the Associated Press, it states that within 120 days, museums will be expected to take corrective action, “replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions.”
The White House detailed steps in the letter that it expects the Smithsonian to implement as part of the review.
Citing the letter, the AP noted that the White House assessment of Smithsonian museums will look at all public-facing content, like social media, exhibition text and educational materials, to “assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals.”
The Smithsonian said in a statement obtained by the AP that 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,” the statement added.
Reuters reported that the Smithsonian features 21 museums and galleries and the National Zoo that are in Washington, D.C. and that the institution receives most of its funding from Congress but is independent of the government in decision-making.
The Source: Information for this story was provided by a Trump Truth Social post, the New York Times, Reuters, and the Associated Press. This story was reported from Washington, D.C.