The White House has come out swinging at the Smithsonian Institution, accusing its leaders of peddling a far-left ideology that erases American heritage. Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. According to the report, the Smithsonian has abandoned its mission of straightforward historical education and scholarship in favor of extreme political activism. I mean, who needs history when you can have ideology, right? The report was published on the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding, because what better way to celebrate America’s birthday than by picking a fight with a beloved institution?
The White House Domestic Policy Council claims that the Smithsonian has moved away from its core mission and is now more focused on transforming the country. I’m not sure what’s more surprising, the fact that the White House thinks the Smithsonian has that kind of power or that they’re actually concerned about the Smithsonian’s alleged liberal bias. During President Trump’s second administration, the Smithsonian has been under pressure to remove “woke” ideology from its exhibits and programming. Because, you know, nothing says “American exceptionalism” like erasing the complexities of history.
A Smithsonian spokesperson told CNN that the institution remains committed to nonpartisan and independent scholarship, despite the White House’s claims. Bless their hearts, they think they can stay above the fray. CNN has reached out to the White House to ask what the administration plans to do with the report, but I’m sure it’ll just be another example of the White House trying to exert its influence over a cultural institution.
The 162-page report follows a March 2025 executive order titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which sought to combat what the White House calls “historical revisions” that cast the country’s history in a negative light. Because, apparently, the only way to make America great again is to rewrite its history. The order set off changes to cultural institutions across the country, including national parks and monuments. As a result, Trump’s aides have been tasked with rooting out what it considers anti-American propaganda at the institution. Somewhere in Atlanta, a producer thought this sounded terrifying, and now we’ve got a full-blown culture war on our hands.
The White House report alleges that the leadership at the National Museum of American History has been captured by a “radical, activist ideology” that is in opposition to the nation’s “noble, honest story.” The report hinges on several key findings, including a lack of attention paid to America’s founders, educational materials on gender fluidity, and a crusade against “whiteness.” You can’t make this stuff up, folks. The White House ordered a comprehensive internal review of exhibits and materials at the Smithsonian Institution last August, because what’s more American than a good old-fashioned witch hunt?
Lonnie Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian, told CNN that the institution has maintained its autonomy even as it has “given everything that’s been asked” by the White House for its review. I’m sure that was a fun conversation to have. After largely staying out of the public eye, Bunch recently helped curate an exhibition to mark America’s 250th birthday. The White House report, however, criticizes the museum’s leadership for “intentionally withholding and subverting” the nation’s central story. Because, apparently, the only way to tell America’s story is through a lens of patriotism and pride, without any of those pesky complexities or nuances.
In conclusion, the White House’s report on the Smithsonian Institution is a perfect example of the culture war that’s been raging in America. It’s a battle between those who want to preserve the complexities of history and those who want to erase them in favor of a more simplistic, patriotic narrative. As I finish my coffee and reflect on this story, I’m reminded that the only thing more exhausting than the news is the constant need to fact-check the White House’s claims. And on that note, I’ll just say that it’s been a wild ride, folks, and I’m sure this won’t be the last we’ve heard of this story. After all, as the saying goes, “well-behaved museums seldom make history,” and the Smithsonian is certainly making headlines these days.
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
