Trump expands ‘woke’ criticism from Smithsonian to other museums
President Trump expanded his criticism of the Smithsonian Institution to include other museums in a long social media post on Tuesday.
“The Museums throughout Washington, but all over the Country are, essentially, the last remaining segment of “WOKE,” he wrote.
The post emphasized his ongoing displeasure with the Smithsonian, describing it as “OUT OF CONTROL” and suggesting that museums around the country may face similar scrutiny.
“President Trump will explore all options and avenues to get the Woke out of the Smithsonian and hold them accountable,” the White House said in a statement to NPR. “He will start with the Smithsonian and then go from there.”
In an Aug. 12 letter to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch, White House representatives said they plan to conduct an audit of eight Smithsonian museums “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.”
Trump’s post on Truth Social accused the Smithsonian of presenting a narrative of “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.”
A number of museum and historical associations, including the Organization of American Historians and the American Association for State and Local History have pushed back against what the American Alliance of Museums described as “growing threats of censorship against US museums.”
“This is not just a concern for select institutions,” the AAM said in an Aug. 15 statement. “These pressures can create a chilling effect across the entire museum sector. Freedom of thought and expression are foundational American values, and museums uphold them by creating spaces where people can engage with history, science, art, and culture in ways that are honest, fact-based, and thought-provoking.”
The White House did not respond to a request for comment about whether governmental review of museums could have a chilling effect on the institutions by threatening their free speech rights and limiting their ability to openly and honestly engage with the public.
Jennifer Vanasco edited this story.
The costs of Israel’s longest war, for Israelis
Israelis are paying heavy costs for the longest war in their history: a mental health crisis, trauma, unprecedented division during wartime, animosity abroad and apathy for Palestinian suffering.
These numbers show how 2 years of war have devastated Palestinian lives in Gaza
It's been two years since Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israeli leaders promised a punishing offensive. Here are some numbers showing the war's toll.
White House floats no back pay for some furloughed federal workers despite 2019 law
A new draft White House memo suggests a 2019 law signed by President Trump that guarantees federal employees get paid after a shutdown ends would not apply to furloughed workers.
The government shutdown is snarling air travel. Officials say it could get worse
A dozen facilities saw air traffic control shortages on Monday, delaying flights at several airports. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed "a slight tick-up in sick calls" due to the shutdown.
Here are the finalists for the 2025 National Book Awards
This year's short list features novelists Rabih Alameddine and Megha Majumdar as well as five first-time nominees for nonfiction, including journalists Omar El Akkad and Julia Ioffe.
New books this week: Thomas Pynchon’s first novel in 12 years, and much more
In addition to Pynchon's Shadow Ticket, this week's releases include a new memoir from Dopesick author Beth Macy, and a coming-of-age story from former U.S. poet laureate Joy Harjo.
