Whitewashing History: Trump’s Attempt to Rewrite the Smithsonian
Aug 21, 2025Posted by Debra Flint-Salter, August 13, 2025
What he aims to do is falsify and 'whitewash' the culture, history, and legacy so as to portray the years of slavery as labor and 'housing' done with consent and gratitude, it would appear. He wants Americans to see what he wants to make others believe and to further gaslight them with the narrative of a country that was never without shame or guilt. He says he wants to remove partisanship, yet the museum wasn't founded on a lie by depicting falsehoods that were told by liberals, but the reality and chronicles of what was, and unbiased.
'The Trump administration said on Tuesday that it would begin a wide-ranging review of current and planned exhibitions at the Smithsonian Institution, scouring wall text, websites and social media “to assess tone, historical framing and alignment with American ideals.”
White House officials announced the review in a letter sent to Lonnie G. Bunch III, the secretary of the Smithsonian. Museums will be required to adjust any content that the administration finds problematic within 120 days, the letter said, “replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate and constructive descriptions.”
The review, which will begin with eight of the Smithsonian’s 21 museums, is the latest attempt by President Trump to try to impose his will on the Smithsonian, which has traditionally operated as an independent institution that regards itself outside the purview of the executive branch.
Kim Sajet, the head of the National Portrait Gallery, resigned in June after Mr. Trump said he was firing her for being partisan. The Smithsonian’s governing board said at the time that it had sole responsibility for personnel decisions.
In its letter, the White House says its review “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.” It adds that the “goal is not to interfere with the day-to-day operations of curators or staff, but rather to support a broader vision of excellence that highlights historically accurate, uplifting and inclusive portrayals of America’s heritage.”
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