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Topics: Donald Trump, History, US News, Politics
Dan Seddon
Topics: Donald Trump, History, US News, Politics
Donald Trump is now waging a full-on war against the Smithsonian, branding them as 'woke' and 'out of control'.
Trump has made his opinion of how the US is portrayed very clear since his ascension to the Oval Office for his second term.
On March 27, he'd signed off on an executive order to 'restore truth and sanity to American history', which in this case, meant the 'restoration of Federal parks, monuments, memorials, statues, markers'.
This also included making sure the Smithsonian celebrates American history' and 'greatness'. But it seems as though he's not yet done with the Smithsonian.
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Only days ago, Trump ordered an internal review of the various exhibits around the States, five months after seizing control of the museum group's messaging.
In a recent post to his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump complained about the darker aspects of the US's history being highlighted, such as slavery.
"The Museums throughout Washington, but all over the Country are, essentially, the last remaining segment of 'WOKE,'" he began his rant. "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 — Nothing about Success, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future.
"We are not going to allow this to happen, and I have instructed my attorneys to go through the Museums, and start the exact same process that has been done with Colleges and Universities where tremendous progress has been made.
"This Country cannot be WOKE, because WOKE IS BROKE. We have the 'HOTTEST' Country in the World, and we want people to talk about it, including in our Museums."
The White House's review is focusing on eight museums in particular, including the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, the National Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, among others (via ABC News).
According to a letter received by the institution's secretary, Lonnie Bunch, this month, the goal of the review - covering internal communications, visitor surveys, content, and outside partners - is to ensure exhibits 'celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions.'
In his executive order, Trump accused the Smithsonian Institution of coming under 'the influence of a divisive, race-centred ideology', which he claimed 'has promoted narratives that portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive'.
"Museums in our Nation’s capital should be places where individuals go to learn — not to be subjected to ideological indoctrination or divisive narratives that distort our shared history," it continues.
In the letter to the institution, they claim the initiative 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'.
Following this, the Smithsonian pushed back, writing in its reply that its 'work is grounded in a deep commitment to scholarly excellence, rigorous research, and the accurate, factual presentation of history'.
It made note that it is ‘reviewing the letter with this commitment in mind and will continue to collaborate constructively with the White House, Congress, and our governing Board of Regents’.
UNILAD has contacted The Smithsonian Institute for comment.