Trump Attacks Smithsonian Over ‘Slavery’ Focus, Demands Emphasis on American ‘Success’

On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump launched a fierce critique of the Smithsonian Institution, accusing it of overemphasizing the nation’s darkest chapters—such as slavery and social inequities—and downplaying themes of success and the future ahead. In a post on his platform, Truth Social, Trump declared: “The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL. Everything that is 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.” 

In the same post, Trump indicated he had instructed his lawyers to conduct a sweeping review of Smithsonian exhibitions, mirroring actions previously taken against colleges and universities. “I have instructed my attorneys to go through the museums,” he wrote, “and start the exact same process that has been done with colleges and universities where tremendous progress has been made.” 

The timing comes amid an ongoing internal investigation launched by the White House last week into eight of the Smithsonian’s twenty-one museums—including major institutions such as the National Museum of American History, National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Air and Space Museum. A letter sent on August 12 to Secretary Lonnie Bunch instructed the Smithsonian to review and revise any content with “ideologically driven language” and replace it with “unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions.” 

Responding to growing concern that this review equates to political interference, cultural and academic groups have issued strong rebuttals. The Association of Art Museum Directors affirmed that “the Smithsonian excels when its scientists, historians and curators are able to determine the direction of their research and exhibitions.” The American Alliance of Museums warned that imposed directives risk “narrowing the public’s window into evidence, ideas and a full range of perspectives.” The American Historical Association emphasized that such political meddling “places at risk the integrity and accuracy of historical interpretation.”