President Donald Trump has once again thrust the Smithsonian Institution into the national spotlight, launching a pointed critique over what he describes as an "overemphasis" on the darkest chapters of American history—especially slavery. The controversy, which erupted on August 19 and 20, 2025, has triggered a fierce debate about how the United States should reckon with its past as it approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026.
Trump’s remarks, shared on Truth Social, accused the Smithsonian’s 21 museums and related institutions of fixating on "how horrible our country is, how bad slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been." He argued that federally funded museums should instead highlight "success," "brightness," and "the future." According to The New York Times, the president’s criticism is the latest in a series of moves to steer national conversation away from what he sees as divisive narratives, and toward what he calls a "sanitized, rosy depiction of America."
The White House has not just stopped at rhetoric. In mid-August, it issued a directive giving the Smithsonian 120 days to scrub its exhibits and programming of what it labeled "divisive or ideologically driven" content. The administration further suggested it would use the same pressure tactics it has applied to colleges and universities—namely, threatening to freeze or redirect congressional funding—to bring the Smithsonian in line with its vision for American history. As Reuters pointed out, while the Smithsonian receives most of its funding from Congress, it is traditionally independent in its curatorial decisions. However, the Trump White House has asserted what The Washington Post described as "sweeping authority" to unilaterally freeze dollars approved by Congress, challenging the usual separation of powers.
Leading the White House’s review of the Smithsonian is Lindsey Halligan, a special assistant to the president. Speaking with Fox News on August 20, Halligan echoed Trump’s sentiments, stating, "The fact our country was involved in slavery is awful. No one thinks otherwise. But what I saw when I was going through the museum, personally, was an overemphasis on slavery, and I think there should be more of an overemphasis on how far we’ve come since slavery." Halligan argued, "We should be able to take our kids, our students, through the Smithsonian and feel proud when we leave… There’s a lot of history to our country—both positive and negative—but we need to keep moving forward. We can’t just keep focusing on the negative. All it does is divide us."
The review, which affects not only the American History Museum but also the Natural History Museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Museum of the American Indian, comes at a particularly sensitive time. The Smithsonian expects over 30 million visitors for the Semiquincentennial celebrations next year, and the institution’s approach to history will undoubtedly shape how millions understand the nation’s past and present.
Trump’s push is not limited to the Smithsonian. He has indicated plans to extend the audit to all U.S. museums, calling them "the last remaining segment of WOKE." In March, he signed an executive order—"Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History"—directing Vice President JD Vance and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to root out what he deems "improper ideology" from Smithsonian institutions. Halligan, who took credit for suggesting the order, told The Washington Post, "I talked to the president about it, and suggested an executive order, and he gave me his blessing, and here we are."
The president’s stance has found some support in the media. On August 21, CBS News host Tony Dokoupil said he agreed with Trump’s push for a review of the Smithsonian’s narrative. "American history shouldn’t be a thing of reverence. The country is not above critique," Dokoupil said, "But we shouldn’t look at our history with contempt, either. And there is some room for correction back toward the middle." He added that Americans deserve to feel proud of their country’s history, and that museums should foster that feeling, noting, "If you ask someone, is the world and its people better off because of the existence of America and its people? To me, the answer is unquestionably yes. And I think people walking in the Smithsonian—when they walk out of it, they should get some sense of that."
Not all voices agree. Critics have charged that the White House is attempting to rewrite or sanitize history for political purposes. Political historian Leah Wright Rigueur told CNN, "I really wonder, has the President of the United States actually visited any of the Smithsonian exhibits or museums? Because if he had, he would actually see a very deep and complex and nuanced story about America. The good, the bad, the ugly, but also a story of resilience that is really about the very best of America when faced with the very worst of our country." She emphasized that the National Museum of African American History and Culture, for example, does not solely focus on slavery but also celebrates Black success stories, including those of Ben Carson and Barack Obama.
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich weighed in on X (formerly Twitter), suggesting that the administration’s actions are part of a broader authoritarian project. "Trump is attacking the Smithsonian museum, saying there’s too much focus on ‘how bad slavery was,’" Reich wrote. "Authoritarians know that if they can convince us our country has never been wrong, they can make us believe our ruler is always right. Be warned." Common Dreams also published a sharply critical piece, framing Trump’s demands as a threat to democracy and an attempt to erase uncomfortable truths from the national memory. The article underscored the importance of independent journalism in holding power to account and preserving an honest reckoning with the past.
Meanwhile, supporters of Trump’s approach, including Fox News columnist Bethany Mandel, have argued that the Smithsonian and other museums have become vehicles for "ideological hectoring" on issues like climate change and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Mandel questioned why taxpayer dollars should fund what she described as a "progressive narrative," warning that unless changes are made before the Semiquincentennial, visitors will leave with "a guilt trip," not a celebration of America’s founding.
Within the Smithsonian itself, the leadership has so far remained largely silent, emphasizing its independence and mission to "forge a shared history, a shared future." The institution’s traditional approach has been to present history in all its complexity, including both the triumphs and the tragedies that have defined the American experience.
As the deadline for the White House’s 120-day review approaches and the nation’s 250th birthday draws near, the battle over how America tells its own story is only intensifying. For now, the Smithsonian stands at the crossroads of a national reckoning—caught between competing visions of the past, the present, and the future.
