1:41President Donald J Trump speaks during a Multilateral Meeting with European leaders in the East Room of the White House in Washington, August 18, 2025. Aaron Schwartz/EPA/Shutterstock
President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the White House is evaluating the Smithsonian museums, voicing displeasure over their emphasis on difficult aspects of U.S. history, such as slavery.
"The Smithsonian has gone TOO FAR—focusing only on America’s flaws, the cruelty of Slavery, and the struggles of the oppressed—without highlighting achievements, optimism, or the promise of tomorrow," Trump posted on his social media account.
"This won’t stand. My legal team is stepping in to scrutinize the Museums, just as we did with universities, where we saw significant improvements," Trump continued. "America must reject WOKENESS, because WOKENESS FAILS. Our nation is the BEST, and that’s the story our Museums should tell."
The Smithsonian did not respond to requests for comment.
President Donald J Trump speaks during a Multilateral Meeting with European leaders in the East Room of the White House in Washington, August 18, 2025.Aaron Schwartz/EPA/Shutterstock
ABC News previously revealed that the White House intends to conduct an extensive assessment of the Smithsonian Institution’s displays and functions in preparation for America’s 250th anniversary next year.
In correspondence sent to Lonnie Bunch, the Smithsonian’s secretary, the White House emphasized the need for museums to showcase "the unity, progress, and timeless principles shaping the American narrative."
During his 2017 visit to The National Museum of African American History and Culture, Trump appeared to view discussions on slavery differently.
At the time, he commended Bunch, who was then the museum’s founding director and now leads the Smithsonian. He described the institution as "amazing," "created with passion," and a "remarkable museum."
He honored abolitionists like Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Frederick Douglass. He also shared a tale about an escaped enslaved person and called the museum visit "a powerful lesson in resisting prejudice, discrimination, and animosity in all its terrible manifestations."
The White House’s evaluation reportedly targets eight museums, including The National Museum of African American History and Culture, The National Museum of American History, The National Museum of Natural History, The National Museum of the American Indian, The Smithsonian American Art Museum, The National Air and Space Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, and The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
In March, Trump issued an executive order tasking Vice President JD Vance and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum with eliminating "inappropriate ideology" from every Smithsonian facility.
Recently, ABC News toured the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and National Museum of African American History and Culture, documenting exhibits that detail slavery, racial segregation, and the civil rights movement through information and artifacts.
Exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.Emily Chang/ABC News
Exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History.Emily Chang/ABC News
Exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History.Emily Chang/ABC News
Exhibit at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History.Emily Chang/ABC News
ABC News' Averi Harper, Hannah Demissie, and Emily Chang provided contributions to this story.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
