Trump to expand push to whitewash 'woke' museum exhibits on slavery

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News on Aug 20, 2025

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President Donald Trump reportedly plans to expand his push to whitewash “woke” museum exhibits on slavery and American history beyond the Smithsonian.

After Trump tweeted that the Smithsonian is too focused on “how bad slavery was,” the White House said it would eventually seek to use its power over funding to force other museums to toe the line on Trump’s views about history.

Trump will hold the Smithsonian “accountable” and “then go from there,” an unnamed official told NBC News.

Trump this week renewed the attack on the Smithsonian that he unleashed this month when he ordered a sweeping review of its exhibits, policies and staffing.

He suggested the revered cultural institution, which is an independent organization but receives significant funding from the federal government, is too focused on the evils of slavery.

“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,” Trump wrote on his social media site. “Nothing about success, nothing about brightness, nothing about the future.”

Trump compared the push against the Smithsonian to his effort to force colleges and universities to bow to his policy goals including ending diversity programs, cracking down on student protests and curbing foreign students.

“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,” Trump added.

The White House ordered up a wide-ranging review of the Smithsonian museums and exhibitions ahead of the country’s 250th birthday, with a goal of aligning the institution’s content with Trump’s more-rosy interpretation of American history.

In a letter sent Tuesday to Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, the White House laid out in detail the steps it expects the organization to take as part of the announced review. The examination will look at all public-facing content, such as social media, exhibition text and educational materials, to “assess tone, historical framing, and alignment with American ideals,” according to the letter.

“This initiative aims 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 letter said.

The Smithsonian has said it’s reviewing Trump’s proposals and vowed to cooperate. It includes 21 museums, 14 education and research centers and a zoo and is considered the world’s largest cultural organization of its kind.