White House brands Smithsonian’s American history museum leaders as ‘extreme’ activists

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A new report from the White House Domestic Policy Council labels leaders at the Smithsonian Institution as “extreme” activists attempting to impose their own ideology on how American history is presented.

The 162-page report, released on July 4, alleges the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History (NAMH) “fails in the basic task of illuminating” U.S. heritage in its exhibits.

“Our central finding is not that the Museum has simply added overlooked stories, corrected perceived errors, or broadened its historical scope,” the report states. “Rather, it is that Museum leadership has explicitly adopted an ideological framework that no longer treats the American story as a shared national inheritance to be taught or celebrated, but as a political instrument to divide, dispirit, and discourage our citizens.”

The NAMH, which opened in 1964, includes exhibits on history, politics and popular culture. To commemorate the country’s 250th birthday, it also opened an exhibit “exploring the ideals of the Declaration of Independence” in May.

But the White House report claims the mission of the museum shifted from “history to activism,” citing NMAH director Anthea Hartig saying she views history as a “prime tool of social justice.”

The report claims the NMAH fails to inform patrons about the Founding Fathers, has “problematized” the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding and advocates on behalf of undocumented migrants and transgender Americans, along with other minority groups.

“As this report shows, confirmed in the words of Museum leadership, this ideological capture has moved the Museum’s mission away from straightforward historical education and scholarship toward an extreme political activism that seeks to transform our country,” the report adds.

A spokesperson for the Smithsonian told The Hill on Sunday, “For more than 180 years, the Smithsonian has served the American public with nonpartisan and independent scholarship, and we remain committed to doing so.”

Lonnie Bunch III, the secretary of the Smithsonian, also said Friday that the country’s 250th birthday is “an opportunity to actually get people to think about” history.

“History is really about ambiguity, complexity, nuance, debate,” Bunch, the secretary since 2019, told host Christiane Amanpour on CNN’s “Amanpour.” “And so, the more that we can help people understand the complexity of this nation, the diversity of this nation, the better it is. Because in many ways, history is as much about today and tomorrow as it is about yesterday.

“And this is one of those moments to use yesterday to help shape today.”

President Trump in March signed an executive order directing his administration to “restore restore Federal sites dedicated to history, including parks and museums, to solemn and uplifting public monuments that remind Americans of our extraordinary heritage, consistent progress toward becoming a more perfect Union, and unmatched record of advancing liberty, prosperity, and human flourishing.”

The order included a section instructing Vice President Vance to, if necessary, work with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) in appointing “citizen” members to the Smithsonian Board of Regents.

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