Smithsonian Leadership Under White House Scrutiny
White House Report Calls Smithsonian Leaders 'Radical Activists,' Raising Trust Concerns
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The White House Domestic Policy Council has released a report branding the Smithsonian Institution's leadership as "radical activists" who cannot be trusted to tell America's story, according to Rutland Herald. The report singles out the National Museum of American History in particular, saying its current leaders cannot present history in a way that is "inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our republic."
The move is part of President Donald Trump's broader push to reshape cultural institutions he views as too liberal, according to Lancaster Online. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch — the first African American to lead the institution — has long championed an honest reckoning with all of America's history, putting him on a collision course with the current White House.
What the White House Report Actually Says
The Domestic Policy Council's report goes beyond mild criticism. It labels the Smithsonian's current leadership not just as politically biased, but as untrustworthy, according to BDT Online. The report specifically targets the interpretive ideology at the National Museum of American History — meaning the way curators frame and explain exhibits to visitors.
The council concluded that the museum's leadership is incapable of telling America's story "honestly" in a way the White House finds acceptable, Gwinnett Daily Post reported. The report signals that the Trump administration may push for leadership changes at one of Washington's most visited institutions, which draws millions of guests each year.
Lonnie Bunch and the Fight Over America's History
At the center of the dispute is Lonnie Bunch, the Smithsonian's secretary since 2019. Bunch made history as the first African American to hold the role. Before leading the Smithsonian, he founded the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which opened in 2016 on the National Mall.
Bunch has consistently argued that understanding the full sweep of American history — including its most painful chapters — is essential to the nation's identity. That view puts him at direct odds with the Trump administration's push to promote what it calls a more "inspiring" and unified national narrative, according to Action News Jax.
Trump's Wider War on Liberal Cultural Institutions
The Smithsonian report is not an isolated move. The Trump administration has aggressively targeted cultural and educational institutions it considers too left-leaning. Previous actions have included executive orders aimed at ending diversity programs across federal agencies and funded institutions, according to WSLS.
The Smithsonian receives significant federal funding — Congress appropriated roughly $1.1 billion for the institution in recent years. That financial dependence gives the White House real leverage, Enid News reported. Critics warn that political pressure on museum leadership could distort how history is taught to future generations.
What Could Happen Next at the Smithsonian
The report may be a precursor to direct personnel changes at the Smithsonian, according to Bozeman Daily Chronicle. The White House has already shown willingness to remove leaders at federal agencies and boards who it sees as obstacles to its agenda. The Smithsonian's board of regents, which includes members of Congress, would normally oversee any leadership changes.
For now, neither Bunch nor the Smithsonian has issued a formal public response to the report, according to WPXI. Historians and museum professionals are watching closely. Many fear that political interference in curatorial decisions could set a precedent that reshapes how Americans encounter their own history for years to come.
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