Trump administration targets Smithsonian over exhibits on slavery, race
White House report accuses the National Museum of American History of 'ideological capture' and orders warning signs.
What to know
- The Trump administration has mounted an unprecedented political assault on the Smithsonian, breaking with decades of bipartisan deference to the institution.
- The conflict centers on museum exhibits addressing slavery's role in American history and achievement, including the Benjamin Franklin exhibit that speculates about enslaved people assisting his electrical experiments.
- Pressure tactics include a 162-page White House report, congressional hearings, executive orders to post warning signs, and a letter from Interior Secretary Burgum suggesting federal agencies cannot cooperate with the institution.
- The Smithsonian historically maintained protected status above political fray despite broader culture wars; this episode signals that protection has eroded.
“For decades, the Smithsonian Institution, which draws some 15 million visitors every year to its assemblage of 21 museums, has managed to stay mostly above the political fray. But that institutional exceptionalism is now imperiled as never before.”
ProPublica reporting, Investigative journalist · ProPublica ↗
Donald Trump President
Anthea Hartig Museum director
Doug Burgum Interior SecretarySmithsonian Institution Cultural institution
How it unfolded 0 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump
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background
Trump orders Department of Interior to post warning signs about 'ideological capture' — Trump signs an executive order instructing the Department of Interior to erect signs outside the museum 'warning visitors about the ideological capture' on display; the signs have not yet been erected as of late September.
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House committees hold back-to-back hearings, Republican members lambast museum director — Two House committees held consecutive hearings on the White House report, with Republican members questioning museum director Anthea Hartig about specific exhibit items, including a sadomasochistic sex harness.
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White House releases 162-page report accusing museum of 'ideological capture' — Timed to the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a White House report argues the museum has moved away from 'straightforward historical education and scholarship toward an extreme political activism that seeks to transform our country.'
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Trump signs executive order declaring Smithsonian has succumbed to 'divisive, race-centered ideology' — President Trump issues an executive order specifically targeting the Smithsonian Institution over its exhibits and curatorial approach.
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Smithsonian opens 'The Electric Dr. Franklin' exhibit discussing slavery's role in his work — The National Museum of American History's exhibit on Benjamin Franklin states that 'Benjamin Franklin's remarkable scientific accomplishments were, in part, enabled by slavery' and speculates that he may have used enslaved people in his electrical experiments.
What people are saying 1 voices from 1 site · best of 2 · verbatim
- Yesterday
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NEW: For decades, the Smithsonian Institution, which draws some 15 million visitors every year to its assemblage of 21 museums, has managed to stay mostly above the political fray. But that institutional exceptionalism is now imperiled as never before.