The recent organized effort to propel a leftist ideology through various institutions is seeing notable success. Since its inception in the late 1960s, many sectors—businesses, churches, law enforcement, and educational institutions—have transformed into hubs that support radical activism and amplify campaigns aligned with Western ideologies.
However, President Donald Trump intervened, calling for a sort of counter-offensive against these ideological currents, which he perceives as an affront to conservative values, criticizing critical race theory, gender ideology, and anti-Semitic narratives.
Liberals, like Brian Stelter from CNN, seem to be wary of the president’s potential to influence the Smithsonian’s portrayal of history as America gears up for its 250th anniversary, which forms part of this wider initiative.
What sparked this initiative?
On March 27, the president unveiled a plan titled “Truth and Restoring Sanity to American History.”
Trump expressed concern that, over the past decade, there has been a concerted effort to reshape American history, substituting factual accuracy with ideology-driven narratives. He remarked, “The museums in our capital should be places of learning, not platforms for ideological indoctrination.”
He further stated that this revisionist trend seeks to diminish the significant achievements of the United States, portraying its founding principles negatively. According to him, this narrative threatens to paint the nation’s legacy of promoting freedom and individual rights as fundamentally flawed.
Trump accused the previous administration of enabling “this corrosive ideology” and pointed out examples of what he labeled as anti-American propaganda featured at the Smithsonian, particularly in the National Museum of African American History and Culture, suggesting that traditional values like the nuclear family and individualism were dismissed as merely expressions of “white culture.”
He reiterated that America’s museums should educate the public, devoid of divisive ideological narratives that distort shared history. To this end, Trump has tasked Vice President J.D. Vance, a member of the Smithsonian Board, along with his special assistant, Lindsay Harrigan, to collaborate with management on erasing these “inappropriate ideologies” from the Smithsonian’s various institutions.
What’s the progress so far?
The White House is actively reshaping the Smithsonian’s approach.
Recently, Harrigan, along with budget officials, communicated with the Smithsonian to indicate a comprehensive internal review of selected museums and their exhibits, referring to it humorously as “a Smithsonian colonoscopy.”
This review initially targets eight museums, including the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of African American History and Culture, with additional institutions to be reviewed later.
Trump’s team aims to:
- Evaluate public content for tone, historical framing, and alignment with American values.
- Conduct interviews with curators and senior staff to grasp their exhibition selection processes better.
- Review current and upcoming exhibitions, especially those tied to the upcoming 250th anniversary celebrations.
- Develop consistent curatorial guidelines moving forward.
They have requested comprehensive documentation related to the Smithsonian’s holdings, current exhibits, and educational materials, with some information expected within the next month.
By December 10, the White House aims to start implementing content changes where needed, shifting toward narratives that celebrate American exceptionalism and distance themselves from divisive themes.
According to Mike Gonzalez from the Heritage Foundation, this initiative resembles a “Smithsonian colonoscopy,” highlighting concerns over the leftist narratives traditionally promoted at these institutions.
While some express worry about the exclusion of vital elements of American exceptionalism, others criticize ongoing left-leaning representations within the Smithsonian’s framework, pointing to historical figures like Angela Davis, who have been celebrated despite controversial pasts.
Liberal organizations like Penn America are pushing back against these efforts, advocating for a comprehensive historical narrative that acknowledges both triumphs and injustices as essential to American identity.
The portrayal of this initiative has sparked debates, with some commentators suggesting it mirrors totalitarian information control. Yet, officials within the White House insist that they are working fervently to restore pride and shared cultural values in American institutions.
