Trump Criticizes Smithsonian for Emphasizing Negativity of Slavery

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he has instructed his attorneys to review Smithsonian museums, criticizing their focus on negative aspects of U.S. history, particularly slavery.

Trump aims to apply the same review process used for universities to make the Smithsonian less "woke." He plans to extend the review to other museums beyond the Washington-based institution.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the Smithsonian's emphasis on the negative aspects of American history and instructed his attorneys to start the review process.

The Smithsonian did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Trump's review.

The White House has taken action against several universities, withdrawing federal funding from schools like Harvard, Columbia, and Brown, accusing them of fostering antisemitic environments and challenging their diversity initiatives.

The Trump administration has initiated a review of Smithsonian exhibits ahead of the country's 250th anniversary to align with Trump's historical perspective.

The White House directed eight Smithsonian museums to provide information on exhibits and plans for the anniversary, with instructions to make content corrections where necessary, including removing "divisive" language.

NBC News reported that artifacts, including a book belonging to Harriet Tubman, were removed from the National Museum of African American History and Culture, raising concerns among historical experts.

The Smithsonian, funded primarily by Congress, consists of 21 museums, 14 research centers, and a zoo, operating independently in its curatorial process.