On America’s 250th, Smithsonian Museums Offer Respite and Reflection
NYT > U.S. > Politics — 2026-07-05 04:01:00 — www.nytimes.com
President Trump Targets Smithsonian Museums, Accusing Them of Focusing on Nation’s Flaws
President Trump has spent nearly a year criticizing the Smithsonian museums, claiming they focus too much on “how horrible our Country is” and not enough on its “brightness,” as he stated on social media. In response, the White House ordered eight Smithsonian museums to submit thousands of pages of documents, wall text, and exhibition materials for review, with the stated goal of assessing their “tone, historical framing and alignment with American ideals.”
This unprecedented scrutiny comes after the Trump administration published a list of Smithsonian exhibits, programming, and artwork it deemed inaccurate, divisive, or otherwise objectionable. Among the highlighted targets was a series at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which educates visitors about whiteness and white culture in the United States. The administration argued that the series portrayed concepts such as the “nuclear family,” “work ethic,” and “intellect” as white qualities rooted in racism, and objected to content from historian Ibram X. Kendi, author of “How to Be an Antiracist.”
Many historians and museum professionals have pushed back, arguing that the administration’s efforts amount to an attempt to dictate a sanitized version of American history. Critics say this approach risks erasing or distorting the complex realities of the nation’s past, particularly regarding race and inequality.
The administration, however, has defended its actions, stating its intention is 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.”
The Smithsonian, which relies on federal funding for the majority of its budget, has complied with some of the administration’s demands, submitting materials and pledging continued transparency. The pressure has left the institution vulnerable, as it receives 62 percent of its more than $1 billion annual budget from congressional appropriations, federal grants, and government contracts.
The Trump administration’s list of objectionable content also included an exhibit at the National Museum of the American Latino depicting migrants watching Fourth of July fireworks through an opening in the U.S.-Mexico border wall, and a papier-mâché sculpture at the American History Museum symbolizing the contributions of farmworkers.
As visitors celebrated America’s 250th birthday on the National Mall, many expressed concern about the administration’s efforts to reshape the narrative presented in the nation’s museums. Critics argue that embracing the full, unvarnished history of the United States is essential for education and understanding, and warn against attempts to hide or remove difficult truths.
Conclusion
President Trump’s campaign to reshape the Smithsonian’s exhibitions reflects a broader effort to control the narrative of American history, emphasizing “exceptionalism” while downplaying or objecting to content that addresses systemic racism, immigration, and other challenging topics. The controversy raises critical questions about the role of museums in society and the importance of preserving honest, inclusive accounts of the nation’s past.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/arts/design/america-250-anniversary-smithsonian.html