Contestant from MAGA's "Biggest Loser" Erupts in Anger While Justifying White People During a CNN Discussion on Slavery
In a heated debate that took place on CNN NewsNight on August 14, 2025, Jillian Michaels, a coach on the show The Biggest Loser and a supporter of former President Donald Trump, accused Trump of trying to change culture and revise history to avoid offending his MAGA base. The debate centered around Trump's pick for Kennedy Center honoree and changes he has made at the Smithsonian Institution.
The conversation took an unexpected turn when Michaels brought up race, claiming that Trump is not whitewashing slavery and that it is incorrect to tie imperialism, racism, and slavery to just one race. However, her statement about the percentage of white Americans who owned slaves was met with disagreement by Rep. Ritchie Torres.
Michaels' comments were in response to the Smithsonian's exhibits, which are broadly considered historically accurate and reflective of the complex realities of slavery, segregation, and the African American experience. These exhibits, particularly the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), celebrate the faith, culture, resilience, and achievements of African Americans across multiple domains—science, art, athletics, entrepreneurship.
Despite political controversies and calls for reviews of exhibitions, the Smithsonian’s exhibits on race and slavery are well-grounded in historical scholarship and provide a comprehensive, factual representation of this critical aspect of American history. The institution maintains a balanced approach by acknowledging the full scope of the American experience, including both painful truths and triumphs, rather than presenting a one-sided narrative.
The debate resulted in cross-talk among the panel members, with Michaels accusing Philip of trying to racialize the conversation. Michaels also criticized an exhibit that touches on gender testing in sports. During her appearance on CNN, she also criticized the Smithsonian for displaying the gay flag upon entering.
The debate was covered by various media outlets, including x.com, and the article originally appeared on HuffPost. It is important to note that Michaels' statements about the Smithsonian exhibits do not align with the historical accuracy and comprehensiveness of these exhibits, as confirmed by fact-checking and independent reporting.
[1] Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://nmaahc.si.edu/
[2] National Museum of American History. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://americanhistory.si.edu/
[3] National Museum of the American Indian. (n.d.). Retrieved August 15, 2025, from https://americanindian.si.edu/
- The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, a museum that celebrates the faith, culture, resilience, and achievements of African Americans, has faced controversy and criticism, particularly regarding exhibits on race and slavery.
- Jillian Michaels, a former coach on the show The Biggest Loser and a supporter of former President Donald Trump, recently criticized the Smithsonian for displaying the gay flag upon entering and for an exhibit that touches on gender testing in sports.
- The debate about the Smithsonian's exhibits was covered by various media outlets, including x.com, and the article originally appeared on syndicated-huffpost, where Michaels' statements about the museum's historical accuracy and comprehensiveness were found to be in disagreement with fact-checking and independent reporting.
- In addition to the Smithsonian's exhibitions on race and slavery, the institution also houses museums such as the National Museum of American History and the National Museum of the American Indian, which provide insights into various aspects of American history, including women's content, general news, policy-and-legislation, politics, and entertainment, featuring celebrities and social-media trends like bestofinternet-twitter.
- The Smithsonian's exhibits on race and slavery are renowned for their historical accuracy and comprehensive representation, showcasing the complex realities of slavery, segregation, and the African American experience across science, art, athletics, entrepreneurship, and more.
- Despite the ongoing debate and criticisms from figures like Michaels, the Smithsonian maintains a balanced approach, acknowledging both the painful truths and triumphs of American history to provide a factual narrative rather than a one-sided one.
