US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social accusing the Smithsonian Institution of focusing excessively on negative aspects of American history, specifically citing exhibits about slavery and the struggles of marginalized groups. He claimed the organization is "out of control" and instructed his attorneys to review its museums, mirroring recent actions against universities. The White House has initiated a four-month review of eight Smithsonian museums, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Portrait Gallery, with a directive to replace "divisive or ideologically driven language" with "unifying, historically accurate" descriptions.
This matters because the Smithsonian is the world's largest museum and research complex, receiving about 53% of its $1.09 billion budget from Congress, making it vulnerable to political pressure. The review has drawn sharp criticism from museum and free-speech organizations, including the Association of Art Museum Directors and the American Alliance of Museums, who warn that political interference threatens curatorial independence and could create a chilling effect across the entire museum sector. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between government oversight and institutional autonomy in presenting American history.