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In reply to the discussion: White House to Vet Smithsonian Museums to Fit Trump's Historical Vision [View all]LetMyPeopleVote
(168,411 posts)12. Maddow Blog-White House to review Smithsonian exhibits to ensure Trump's views are reflected
As a political matter, Donald Trump and his team have made this a difficult year for the Smithsonian. Its poised to get much worse.
If Republicans want Trumpâs critics to stop calling him an authoritarian, maybe White House officials shouldnât tell the Smithsonian that theyâll be reviewing exhibits to ensure the presidentâs views are reflected. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-08-12T18:33:58.090Z
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/white-house-review-smithsonian-exhibits-ensure-trumps-views-are-reflec-rcna224589
Late last week, the museum restored information about the incumbent president to a display on presidential impeachments, but the new version wasnt necessarily improved: It made changes to the original and removed some details.
But just because things are bad doesnt mean they cant get worse. The Wall Street Journal reported:
The Journals report, which has been independently verified by NBC News, added that Team Trump intends to scrutinize everything from public-facing exhibition text and online content to internal curatorial processes, exhibition planning, the use of collections and artist grants......
Of course, theres no reason to believe that Americans have lost confidence in the Smithsonian, just as theres no reason to believe the public will feel greater confidence in the museums after Team Trump advances its wildly unnecessary initiative. (The letter was signed by White House senior associate Lindsey Halligan, the director of the domestic policy council, Vince Haley, and the director of the office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought.)....
The title of the White Houses order from March said the directive was intended to restore sanity to American history. Given the circumstances, sanity is not the word that comes to mind.
But just because things are bad doesnt mean they cant get worse. The Wall Street Journal reported:
The White House plans to conduct a far-reaching review of Smithsonian museum exhibitions, materials and operations ahead of Americas 250th anniversary to ensure the museums align with President Trumps interpretation of American history. In a letter sent to Lonnie Bunch, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, three top White House officials said they want to ensure the museums unity, progress, and enduring values that define the American story and reflect the presidents executive order calling for Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History.
The Journals report, which has been independently verified by NBC News, added that Team Trump intends to scrutinize everything from public-facing exhibition text and online content to internal curatorial processes, exhibition planning, the use of collections and artist grants......
Of course, theres no reason to believe that Americans have lost confidence in the Smithsonian, just as theres no reason to believe the public will feel greater confidence in the museums after Team Trump advances its wildly unnecessary initiative. (The letter was signed by White House senior associate Lindsey Halligan, the director of the domestic policy council, Vince Haley, and the director of the office of Management and Budget, Russ Vought.)....
The title of the White Houses order from March said the directive was intended to restore sanity to American history. Given the circumstances, sanity is not the word that comes to mind.
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White House to Vet Smithsonian Museums to Fit Trump's Historical Vision [View all]
mahatmakanejeeves
Aug 12
OP
He'll have anything regarding former slaves' and womens' voting rights eliminated
Ritabert
Aug 12
#4
I don't want TSF's fu*king interpretation of American history. I want the bare, brutal truth of our history.
sinkingfeeling
Aug 12
#6
Maddow Blog-White House to review Smithsonian exhibits to ensure Trump's views are reflected
LetMyPeopleVote
Aug 12
#12
O.M.G. I doubt Trump can name the 3 branches of government let alone interpret American history.
Vinca
Aug 12
#13
Weirdly this doesn't mention that the woman Trump put in charge of reviewing the Smithsonian is ...
mahatmakanejeeves
Aug 12
#16
Here is a link to trump's "fact sheet" on editing history at the Smithsonian
LetMyPeopleVote
Aug 12
#17
CBS: White House launching review of Smithsonian museums to "ensure alignment" with Trump's plans
riversedge
Aug 12
#21
Guess they need to find something out about the airports during the Revolutionary war
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
Aug 12
#25
Letter to the Smithsonian: Internal Review of Smithsonian Exhibitions and Materials
mahatmakanejeeves
Aug 13
#26