President Trump Criticizes Smithsonian, Calls for Overhaul of 'Woke' Historical Narratives
President Trump criticized Smithsonian museums as "woke" and "out of control," advocating a shift from negative history to national achievements and directing a review to align narratives.
Overview
- President Trump publicly criticized Smithsonian museums, labeling them "woke" and "out of control" for their perceived overemphasis on negative aspects of American history, particularly slavery.
- He advocates for a significant shift in the museums' focus, urging them to celebrate American exceptionalism and highlight the nation's "brightness" and achievements instead of past grievances.
- To enforce his vision, President Trump directed his attorneys to initiate a comprehensive review and overhaul of the Smithsonian, mirroring actions previously taken against universities.
- This directive aims to align the museums' historical narratives with the White House's broader agenda, emphasizing themes of unity, progress, and enduring American values.
- Trump believes the U.S. should prioritize current successes over historical issues like slavery, having previously signed executive orders to address similar ideological concerns.
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Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the story neutrally by primarily reporting President Trump's statements and the White House's directives regarding Smithsonian museums. They present the administration's stated goals for the review, include the Smithsonian's official response, and incorporate reactions from museum associations, providing a balanced overview of the unfolding situation without adopting evaluative language or a specific narrative.
"Trump's comments reflect a desire to reshape the narrative of U.S. history presented by the Smithsonian, emphasizing a more positive portrayal while criticizing the focus on slavery and its impacts."
NBC News"President Trump expanded his criticism of the Smithsonian Institution to include other museums in a long social media post on Tuesday."
NPR"Trump's remarks, made in an Aug. 19 social media post on Truth Social, came after he last week launched a review of the Smithsonian Institution and its 21 museums to remove "divisive or partisan" elements and determine whether its materials conformed to the Trump administration's views on teaching history."
USA TODAY"Trump expressed frustration over the portrayal of dark parts of America's history, including slavery, in the Smithsonian museums, advocating for a focus on success and brightness instead."
ABC News"Trump's comments reflect a belief that the Smithsonian's focus on historical injustices overshadows American achievements and success."
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FAQ
President Trump ordered a comprehensive review and overhaul of Smithsonian museum exhibits to align them with his vision, emphasizing American exceptionalism, unity, and progress while removing content he considers divisive or 'woke.'
Trump criticizes the Smithsonian museums for focusing on negative aspects of American history, such as slavery, rather than celebrating the nation's successes and achievements, which he believes promotes divisiveness.
Historians like Annette Gordon-Reed have expressed concern that the directive politicizes the Smithsonian, undermining the independence of historians and researchers and amounts to a whitewashing of history.
The review of Smithsonian exhibits is part of a wider White House effort to promote narratives of unity, progress, and traditional American values, aligning cultural institutions with the administration’s ideological goals.
In addition to targeting Smithsonian museums, the administration is partnering with conservative media like PragerU to create educational content and has taken actions against universities and cultural organizations perceived as promoting divisive or progressive ideologies.
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