In a move that has sent shockwaves through the cultural and political spheres, former President Donald Trump has trained his sights on one of America's most revered institutions, the Smithsonian. His latest broadside takes aim squarely at its celebrated work in chronicling Black history, signalling a deeply contentious new front in the nation's ongoing culture wars.
An Assault on 'Woke' Historical Narratives
Leveraging his powerful platform, Trump has publicly vilified the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. He brands its critically acclaimed exhibits and educational resources as "divisive," "un-American," and emblematic of a "woke" ideology he vehemently opposes. This attack forms a key part of his broader campaign promise to defund and dismantle federal programmes he claims are teaching American children to be "ashamed of their own country."
The Smithsonian's Stance: A Bastion of Factual History
The Smithsonian Institution, a cornerstone of American heritage and learning, has long stood as a beacon of factual, nuanced historical scholarship. Its National Museum of African American History and Culture, in particular, has been globally lauded for its unflinching and powerful portrayal of the Black experience in America—from the horrors of slavery and segregation to the triumphs of the Civil Rights movement and beyond.
Museum directors and historians are now mounting a robust defence of their mission. They argue that presenting a complete and honest account of the nation's past, however uncomfortable, is not an act of division but one of education and ultimate unity. To remove this, they contend, is to whitewash history itself.
Political Motivations and the 2025 Landscape
Analysts are quick to situate this offensive within Trump's wider political strategy. By reigniting battles over history and identity, he mobilises his core base and shifts focus from other pressing policy issues. The assault on the Smithsonian is seen not as an isolated incident, but as part of a calculated pattern of attacking venerable institutions—from the judiciary to the electoral system—that challenge his narrative.
Public and Academic Backlash
The reaction from academics, civil rights leaders, and the public has been one of fierce condemnation. Many see this as a blatant attempt to erase the lived experiences of Black Americans and sanitise the nation's history for political gain. The potential defunding of such vital work, critics warn, represents a grave danger to American democracy and its commitment to truth and reconciliation.
As the debate intensifies, the Smithsonian finds itself at the epicentre of a profound national struggle over who controls the story of America—and whose story gets told.
