Douglas Emhoff, the spouse of Kamala Harris, recounts being ejected from a Holocaust museum during Donald Trump's tenure.
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Doug Emhoff, the spouse of Vice President Kamala Harris, shared the news on Tuesday, April 29, that he'd been booted from the board of the Holocaust Museum in D.C., yet another example of Donald Trump's diligent attempts to sweep away remnants of his Democratic forerunner. It's not just a singular move from Trump, this is part of a broader scheme to assert control over cultural institutions.
The council that runs the museum in the nation's capital counts 63 members, with 55 being appointed by the U.S. president. This Jewish lawyer, in his role as the "Second Gentleman" (the first in U.S. history), made fighting anti-Semitism a top priority. Emhoff expressed his displeasure over this politicization of history, remarking on Instagram that it's "dangerous" and "dishonors the memory of the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis"[2].
Word has it that the Trump administration has also started removing appointees of Joe Biden from this council, not limited to Ron Klain and Susan Rice[2]. One cannot forget about the drama at the Kennedy Center, a cultural institution in D.C., where Trump replaced the leadership, with plans to put it back on a "straight and narrow"[3].
Performance events deemed "shameful" by Trump, like drag queen shows, have been banned from the main concert hall[3]. Richie Grenell, a loyalist of the former president, was temporarily placed in charge. Trump summed up his intentions by aiming to regain control over the content of the Smithsonian museums, possibly still under his sights[3].
Trump's actions don't solely impact cultural institutions' finances, but also their credibility and neutrality. The focus on patriotic projects has led to cuts in federal funding for diverse exhibitions, such as those highlighting Black artists and the LGBTQ community[3]. Public concern around diversity and inclusion has escalated, sparking debates about the necessity of preserving diverse narratives and funding in arts and humanities.
- Doug Emhoff, as the "Second Gentleman," has made fighting anti-Semitism a top priority, but his dismissal from the Holocaust Museum board could be seen as part of a broader politicization of culture and history by the Trump administration.
- Emhoff expressed his displeasure over this politicization, stating on Instagram that it's "dangerous" and "dishonors the memory of the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis."
- The Trump administration has also been reported to remove appointees of Joe Biden from the council that runs the Holocaust Museum, and similar actions have been taken at other cultural institutions like the Kennedy Center.
- Trump's actions at the Kennedy Center included banning performance events deemed "shameful" by him, putting Richie Grenell, a loyalist, in temporary charge, and aiming to regain control over the content of the Smithsonian museums.
- The focus on patriotic projects by Trump has led to cuts in federal funding for diverse exhibitions, sparking public concern around diversity and inclusion and debates about the necessity of preserving diverse narratives and funding in arts and humanities.
