Trump Escalates Attacks Against Smithsonian Museums, Says There’s Too Much Focus On ‘How Bad Slavery Was’

August 21, 2025

President Trump has escalated his campaign against cultural institutions by directing his attorneys to review museums, particularly criticizing the Smithsonian for allegedly focusing too much on negative aspects of American history like slavery. This follows a recently announced White House review of the Smithsonian Institution, where Trump administration officials are seeking to ensure exhibits align with celebrating "American exceptionalism" and remove what they consider divisive narratives. The Smithsonian's exhibits typically undergo years of planning and rigorous evaluation by scholars and curatorial experts before being displayed.

Who is affected

The Smithsonian Institution and its museums
Museum visitors and the American public
Scholars and curatorial experts who develop museum exhibits
Smithsonian Institution secretary Lonnie Bunch III
Museum staff who would need to provide extensive documentation

What action is being taken

President Trump is directing his attorneys to conduct a review of museums
The White House is conducting a "sweeping review" of the Smithsonian Institution
The administration is requesting extensive materials from the Smithsonian, including internal emails, memos, and digital copies of placards
The Smithsonian is conducting its own review that began in June
Trump has placed Vice President JD Vance in charge of stopping government spending on exhibits deemed not aligned with the administration's agenda

Why it matters

The initiative represents an unprecedented level of executive interference in cultural institutions
The review challenges museum curation processes that typically involve years of planning and expert evaluation
According to museum ethics expert Janet Marstine, the demands "set the Smithsonian up for failure" as they're nearly impossible to fulfill in the timeframe
The actions reflect a broader effort to reshape how American history is presented in public institutions
The initiative creates tension between the administration's vision of "American exceptionalism" and the Smithsonian's stated commitment to "unbiased presentation of facts and history"

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint