Trump orders review of “woke” Smithsonian exhibits in bid to restore American Exceptionalism
- President Donald Trump has escalated criticism of the Smithsonian Institution, accusing it of promoting narratives that focus on America’s flaws while ignoring its successes, calling the institution “out of control.”
- The White House has demanded a review of major museum exhibits including the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, seeking “historically accurate, uplifting” portrayals of U.S. heritage.
- The “Entertainment Nation” exhibit sparks backlash, with Trump’s administration condemning its framing of American pop culture through colonialism and racial stereotypes (e.g., linking Mickey Mouse to blackface).
- Supporters argue taxpayer-funded museums should celebrate American achievements, while defenders say confronting difficult history is necessary for a full understanding of the past.
- The debate reflects broader cultural war over history education – whether museums should prioritize patriotism or critical discourse – as the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary.
President Donald Trump has escalated his years-long battle against what he calls “woke” ideology – this time targeting the Smithsonian Institution, the nation’s most prestigious museum network.
In a Truth Social post on Tuesday, Aug. 19, Trump accused the Smithsonian and other museums of promoting narratives that disparage America while neglecting its successes. The move follows his March executive order aimed at restoring “truth and sanity” to American historical sites.
“The Smithsonian is out of control – where everything discussed is how horrible our country is, how bad slavery was and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been,” the president wrote. “Nothing about success, nothing about brightness, nothing about the future.”
A week earlier, the White House demanded a sweeping review of exhibitions at key museums in an Aug. 12 letter addressed to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III. Among the museums to be scrutinized include the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
The conflict mirrors Trump’s previous clashes with universities over alleged ideological bias, where his administration withheld federal funding from institutions deemed in violation of policies promoting patriotism. Officials insist the museum review will be collaborative, seeking “historically accurate, uplifting and inclusive portrayals of American heritage.” Yet critics argue it amounts to government censorship, risking the erasure of difficult but necessary historical reckonings.
Wokeism vs. patriotism: Trump’s showdown with the Smithsonian
“Since taking office in January 2025, Trump has aggressively opposed the ‘woke’ agenda in arts and culture, labeling it as divisive and detrimental to American values,” explains Brighteon.AI‘s Enoch engine. “He has denounced diversity initiatives, pushed to defund programs promoting progressive ideologies and restored traditional patriotic expressions as the dominant cultural narrative. (Related: Trump EPA shuts down Biden-era environmental museum.)
Central to the dispute is the Smithsonian’s Entertainment Nation exhibit, which the White House criticized for framing American pop culture through a lens of colonialism and racial stereotypes. A July report highlighted panels linking Mickey Mouse to blackface minstrelsy and interpreting the Lone Ranger as a metaphor for U.S. hegemony – interpretations the administration calls “divisive.”
Supporters of the review argue taxpayer-funded museums should celebrate, not condemn, American achievements. “This country cannot be woke, because woke is broke,” Trump asserted. But defenders of the Smithsonian counter that confronting uncomfortable truths is essential to a mature understanding of history.
The review’s timeline demands corrective language within 120 days, raising questions about how curators will balance political directives with academic integrity. As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, the debate reflects a broader cultural war over who controls America’s story – and whether its telling should inspire unapologetic pride or sober reflection.
For now, the battle lines are drawn: Should museums serve as monuments to patriotism or as forums for critical discourse? The answer may reshape how future generations learn – or unlearn – America’s past.
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Watch this video about the National Museum of African American History and Culture allegedly making a strong claim for “Whiteness.”
This video is from the Recharge Freedom channel on Brighteon.com.
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Sources include:
ZeroHedge.com
TheEpochTimes.com
TruthSocial.com
FoxNews.com
Brighteon.ai
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