Kamala Harris' spouse, Doug Emhoff, removed from the board of directors at the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C.
Here's a Fresh Spin on Trump's Crusade for Cultural Control
Donald Trump's relentless pursuit of cultural influence changed gears once more last Tuesday, April 29, when Doug Emhoff, husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris, was ousted from the board at the Holocaust Museum in Washington. The council, which supervises the museum, comprises 63 members, a whopping 55 of whom are appointed by the U.S. President.
"Let's keep the Holocaust education and memory untouched by politics," Emhoff asserted in a statement, echoing his stance. As a Jewish attorney, his ceremonial role as "Second Gentleman," the nation's first, has prioritized combating anti-Semitism.
As reported by the New York Times, the Trump administration has been systematically ejecting Biden appointees from this council, with Ron Klain, former chief of staff to the Democratic president, and Susan Rice, national security advisor under Barack Obama, also affected.
Mid-February, Trump had already made up his mind to dismiss several members of the Kennedy Center's board of trustees in Washington, an institution he aimed to set on the "straight and narrow."
Previously, the Republican billionaire had already stamped a ban on performances at the capital's main concert hall that he deemed "disgraceful" for America, including drag queen shows. He also seized the opportunity to install one of his loyalists, Richard Grenell, to temporarily steer the venue.
The climax came at the end of March, when Trump signed an executive order to regain control over the content displayed at Smithsonian museums in Washington, which he accused of promoting "racial ideological indoctrination."
Trump's ambitions to capture cultural institutions aren't limited to the Kennedy Center and Smithsonian. Indications suggest potential changes at the Smithsonian Institution through Vice President J.D. Vance's position, and his interventions at the US Holocaust Memorial Council point to a pattern of appointing supporters of Israel to replace Biden appointees.
Overall, Trump's zealous efforts to claim and control cultural institutions highlight his mission to restore "truth in American history." Whether it's removing appointees or appointing political allies, his quest for cultural influence seems unyielding.
- The Trump administration's actions, such as dismissing Doug Emhoff from the Holocaust Museum board and ousting other Biden appointees, seem to politicize policy-and-legislation regarding museums.
- Doug Emhoff, holding a strong stance against politicizing the Holocaust education and memory, was dismissed from the Holocaust Museum board, highlighting the general-news trend of Trump's administration ejecting those who align with the opposite party.
- After demanding changes at the Kennedy Center and Smithsonian, Trump signed an executive order to control the content displayed at Smithsonian museums, citing their promotion of "racial ideological indoctrination."
- By ousting Biden appointees and potentially appointing supporters of Israel to their places on the US Holocaust Memorial Council, Trump appears to be following a pattern aiming for cultural control, as indications suggest potential changes at the Smithsonian Institution through Vice President J.D. Vance's position.
