President Donald Trump has thrust the Smithsonian Institution into the center of America’s ongoing culture wars, sparking fierce debate over how the nation’s history should be presented in its most prominent museums. The controversy erupted after Trump accused the Smithsonian of being “OUT OF CONTROL,” claiming the institution’s exhibits focus excessively on America’s darker chapters—particularly slavery—while failing to celebrate the country’s successes and future potential. The ensuing uproar has drawn in political leaders, media commentators, and museum experts, all weighing in on what stories the Smithsonian should tell as the United States approaches its 250th birthday next year.
Trump’s criticism, delivered in a pointed social media post on August 19, 2025, set the tone for the clash. According to The New York Times, 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.” He continued, “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.”
The following day, CBS host Tony Dokoupil publicly defended Trump’s directive for the Smithsonian to review its exhibits. During a segment of “CBS Mornings,” Dokoupil argued that while American history should not be above critique, it shouldn’t be viewed with contempt either. “American history shouldn’t be a thing of reverence. The country is not above critique,” he said, as reported by Fox News. “But we shouldn’t look at our history with contempt, either. And there is some room for correction back toward the middle.” Dokoupil emphasized that the Smithsonian’s mission is to “forge a shared history, a shared future, not just context, but hope to lead the country and communities together. That’s essentially what Donald Trump is offering here.”
Trump’s push didn’t stop at criticism. On August 12, 2025, the White House issued a letter to the Smithsonian, ordering an internal review of its exhibits 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 timing is no coincidence—these changes are to be implemented ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday celebrations in 2026, a moment Trump and his supporters see as an opportunity to shape national memory.
Not everyone on the “CBS Mornings” panel agreed with Dokoupil’s assessment. Co-host Vladimir Duthiers King pushed back, stating, “We don’t have to whitewash who we are and where we came from.” Gayle King echoed this sentiment, saying she did not believe that what Trump labeled as a “woke” presentation was an “overcorrection,” but rather “the history that’s all part of who we are.” The exchange mirrored the broader national debate: Should museums prioritize uplifting narratives, or must they confront the country’s most painful legacies head-on?
The Smithsonian, which manages a world-renowned collection of museums in Washington, D.C., did not immediately respond to requests for comment, according to NBC News. However, experts in museum ethics have weighed in. Janet Marstine, a scholar in the field, warned that the Trump administration’s demands “set the Smithsonian up for failure,” as reported by CNN. She and others point out that Smithsonian exhibits are the result of years of planning and rigorous scholarly evaluation, designed to offer visitors a nuanced understanding of American history.
Trump’s approach is not limited to museums. Since returning to office, he has led efforts to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion policies from federal agencies, and has threatened schools and companies that adopt such frameworks, according to The New York Times. He has also sought to de-emphasize the nation’s history of racism and discrimination, advocating instead for what critics call a sanitized, overly rosy picture of America’s past. Lindsey Halligan, a former Trump lawyer now serving as his senior associate staff secretary, echoed this view on Fox News, stating, “I think there should be more of an overemphasis on how far we’ve come since slavery.”
The backlash from Trump’s critics was swift and pointed. California Governor Gavin Newsom accused the president of “trying to ERASE slavery from U.S. history,” while Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts called Trump’s comments “outrageous and un-American.” McGovern argued, “If Trump thinks slavery wasn’t bad, he clearly needs to spend more time in a museum.” Media figures also weighed in, with CNN’s Abby Phillip declaring, “It’s important to say, objectively, slavery was indeed bad. It was evil — the nation’s original sin. And it is impossible to understand the true history of this country without fully grappling with slavery’s impact.”
Despite the firestorm, Trump’s strategy is familiar to those who have followed his political career. As The Hill noted, Trump’s penchant for igniting cultural battles has been a hallmark of his public life, often delighting his base while infuriating critics. This latest episode fits neatly into that pattern, with Trump framing his intervention as a campaign against “wokeness”—a term he has used to criticize not only museums but also universities and other institutions he believes have strayed from traditional patriotic narratives.
Public opinion, however, appears divided. Recent polls suggest that Trump’s culture war tactics may not be winning over the broader electorate. An Ipsos/Reuters poll from August 2025 showed Trump’s approval rating at 40 percent, with 54 percent of respondents disapproving of his job performance. An Economist/YouGov poll painted an even bleaker picture, with Trump’s net approval rating 16 points in the negative. When it comes to personal likability, only 33 percent of Americans surveyed said they liked Trump as a person, while 48 percent expressed dislike, including a significant portion of self-described conservatives.
Yet, for many of Trump’s supporters, the battle over the Smithsonian is about more than just museum exhibits. It’s a fight over national identity, pride, and the stories Americans tell about themselves. The president’s insistence on celebrating American exceptionalism and downplaying uncomfortable truths resonates with culturally conservative voters who feel alienated by what they see as the liberal drift of American institutions.
As the Smithsonian undertakes its mandated review, the nation is left to grapple with fundamental questions: Can a museum tell the full story of America—the triumphs and the tragedies—without alienating one side or the other? And as the country prepares for its semiquincentennial, whose version of history will ultimately be on display?
For now, the debate rages on, with no sign that Trump or his critics are willing to back down. The Smithsonian’s future—and the shape of America’s historical narrative—hangs in the balance.
