House to Hold Hearing on Smithsonian Museum’s Alleged Efforts to Alter American History
Fox News’ Alex Hogan reports on a congressional hearing set by the House Oversight Committee addressing accusations that the Smithsonian Institution’s exhibits reflect a political bias aimed at rewriting American history. A report from the White House suggests that the National Museum of American History undermines the country’s past, leading to increased scrutiny of its management and use of federal resources.
DEARBORN, MI – Almost 25 years after the events of September 11, a Smithsonian affiliate in Michigan continues to emphasize discrimination and government responses to the attacks in its 9/11 exhibits and anniversary events. This focus appears to overshadow the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day, according to findings from Fox News Digital.
The Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, presents an exhibit arguing that Arab Americans “suffered two-fold as a result of the tragic events of September 11th,” both from the attacks and what the museum considers unfair treatment from the U.S. government afterwards. Since its inception, the museum has consistently highlighted the perceived discriminatory impacts of the American response to 9/11.
This month, Fox News Digital visited the museum, looked over its exhibits, and reviewed federal funding records alongside years of anniversary programming.
The Arab American National Museum (AANM) has received substantial grant support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and operates as a Smithsonian affiliate. Recently, the Smithsonian has been heavily criticized by conservative lawmakers for allegedly allowing political bias to color its historical presentations.
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One placard in the museum criticizes the government’s post-9/11 detentions of immigrants investigated for possible terrorist affiliations, pointing out that “virtually none were charged” with terrorism-related offenses.
“The Arab American community suffered two-fold due to the disastrous events of September 11th. Like all Americans, they experienced horror and grief. Yet, Arab Americans were unjustly blamed, with no Arab American ever determined to be guilty of any ties to the attacks,” reads the placard.
On September 11, 2001, 19 al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four planes, crashing two into the World Trade Center and another into the Pentagon. Passengers aboard United Flight 93 fought against the hijackers, causing the plane to crash in Pennsylvania. Overall, the attacks resulted in 2,977 fatalities and sparked the largest investigation in FBI history.
Another placard claims that Arabs faced stricter immigration enforcement after the attacks, stating that some individuals were “deported for minor visa violations or petty offenses that would have been ignored before.”
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In the months following the attacks, immigration authorities detained 762 non-citizens based on immigration charges related to the FBI’s terrorism investigation, according to a report by the Justice Department inspector general. Many detainees, who had no ties to terrorism, experienced harsh treatment and were held under unnecessarily strict conditions.
The public response, however, painted a mixed picture of the aftermath of 9/11. President George W. Bush urged Americans not to blame Muslims for the attacks. Polling data later indicated that attitudes toward Muslim Americans had actually improved post-9/11, with favorable perceptions rising from 45% in March 2001 to 59% in November of that year, according to the Pew Research Center.
Beyond its permanent exhibits, the AANM frequently utilizes programming around the September 11 anniversary to explore issues of discrimination and law enforcement policies that affect Arab and Muslim populations.
The museum organizes an annual “solidarity” town hall where discussions often center on critiques of the American response to 9/11. Interestingly, the event’s description does not mention the fatalities related to the attacks but emphasizes providing a platform for communities to reflect on the prejudices faced by Arab and Muslim individuals.
At a town hall in 2018, one discussion examined how communities of color were targeted through national security approaches, often viewed as violent threats.
In the following year, the AANM’s town hall criticized the infiltration of law enforcement into institutions serving communities of color since the events of 9/11, along with the targeting of group leaders.
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The AANM was created in 2005 partly in response to the increased scrutiny experienced by the Arab American community after the attacks on the World Trade Center. It has received more than half a million dollars from the NEH throughout its history to support exhibits and programming and also garnered a $385,000 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to expand in 2013. Additional HUD funding exceeding half a million dollars was provided between 2017 and 2019, along with at least $50,000 from the State Department from 2016 to 2017, as indicated in the museum’s annual reports.
Dearborn, where approximately 54.5% of residents are of Middle Eastern or North African descent, is a significant political hub in Michigan, especially as the state approaches one of the most contested Senate races this year. Socialist-aligned Abdul El-Sayed has gained notable support from the city during his campaign.
The museum’s critique extends beyond its examination of the U.S. response to 9/11.
On September 10, just before the 25th anniversary of the attacks, the AANM plans to host a screening of “Seeds for Liberation,” which portrays Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack as part of a lengthy Palestinian “struggle” and connects it to broader historical themes of “anti-imperialist and decolonial movements.”
During Fox News Digital’s recent visit, part of the museum was devoted to art criticizing Israel’s alleged “occupation” of Palestinian land. One artwork stylizes the word “wall” and accuses the Israeli government of fostering a system of “apartheid.”
This installation broadly charges that Israel targets civilians in military actions, denies basic necessities to Palestinians, and unjustly occupies their land.
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One placard accompanying a sculpture claims that Israel has killed over 2,000 Palestinian children since September 29, 2000, referencing If Americans Knew (IAK), a source that some pro-Palestinian organizations have distanced themselves from due to claims of antisemitism and ties to white supremacists, which the group contests. IAK also operates a news site that publishes content disputing the characterization of Hamas as a terrorist organization.
Another placard quotes Defense of Children International Palestine, which Israel designated as a terrorist organization in 2021. This classification has been contested by DCIP and human rights advocates.
The museum’s gift shop also stocks Palestinian-themed items, such as map-shaped magnets, keychains, coloring books promoting “Palestinian heritage,” and keffiyehs.
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The AANM, the Smithsonian, the NEA, and the NEH did not respond to requests for comments made by Fox News Digital.
Smithsonian affiliates like the AANM are independently run museums that have formal connections with the Smithsonian, allowing them access to artifact loans, educational resources, and expert consultations.
Lately, the Smithsonian has faced growing pressure from Republican lawmakers and the president, who accuse its museums of promoting left-wing ideological agendas through their exhibitions. Officials have even hinted at funding cuts if the institution does not address what the Trump administration labels as anti-American bias.
