In a Truth Social tirade on Tuesday, Donald Trump called the Smithsonian Institution, which his administration has sought to reshape to favor so-called American exceptionalism, “out of control.” The museum and research network, he said, focuses too heavily on “how bad slavery was” and “how horrible our country is.”
Trump took his commentary a step further to call museums in the United States the “last remaining pillar of ‘woke,’” a term which conservatives have used to discredit progressive values. The term, however, has deep roots in Black culture dating back to the Civil Rights Movement, referring to social and political consciousness in the context of racial justice.
Last week, the Trump administration began a review of the Smithsonian, vowing to issue “content corrections” wherever its officials identified “divisive” content.
“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,” the President wrote. “This Country cannot be WOKE, because WOKE IS BROKE.”
After Trump withdrew $400 million in federal grants from Columbia University earlier this year, the school caved to his demands, including implementing a controversial definition of antisemitism that includes some criticism of Israel and complying with Trump’s anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion measures. Columbia agreed to pay the Trump administration a $200 million fine in a settlement to restore funding.
The Smithsonian, though an independent institution, also relies heavily on federal funding. Around 62% of its funding comes from the federal government, and the Vice President and Supreme Court Chief Justice sit on its board of regents.
Already, the Trump administration has proposed eliminating funding for the National Museum of the American Latino, which does not yet have a physical location, and the Anacostia Community Museum, founded in 1967 to expand outreach to Washington, DC’s Black residents.
Following news of Trump’s official review of the institution, the advocacy organization American Alliance of Museums released a statement condemning the administration’s efforts to reshape the Smithsonian.
“People trust museums because they rely on independent scholarship and research, uphold high professional standards, and embrace open inquiry,” the statement read. “When any directive dictates what should or should not be displayed, it risks narrowing the public’s window into evidence, ideas, and a full range of perspectives.”
