Trump Intensifies Criticism of Smithsonian Museums, Claiming Overemphasis on Slavery's Harsh Reality

President Donald Trump intensified his initiative to remove content from cultural institutions that he perceives as contradictory to his political views, asserting that museums overly emphasize the negative facets of American history, specifically “how bad slavery was.”In a post on Truth Social, Trump instructed his attorneys to review the operational narratives of museums, likening this endeavor to his ongoing scrutiny of universities nationwide.“The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, focusing extensively on our nation's flaws, the severity of slavery, and the perceived failures of marginalized groups – neglecting aspects of success, optimism, and our future,” he stated.This commentary comes shortly after the White House initiated an unprecedented assessment of the Smithsonian Institution, which oversees the country’s prominent public museums. This initiative, articulated in a letter by Trump aides to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III, is intended to ensure adherence to the President’s vision of American exceptionalism, purge divisive narratives, and restore faith in our shared cultural institutions.The review will scrutinize public-facing content, exhibit selection processes, and the standards governing narrative frameworks.