Trump Intensifies Campaign Against Progressive Ideologies, Pushing for Museums to Save Traditional Values - Trump intensifies lobbying efforts towards museums
In a recent development, former President Donald Trump has launched a formal review of museums across the United States, aiming to eliminate what he perceives as overly "woke" or divisive content. This move is a continuation of Trump's previous administration's approach, which involved using funding cuts to pressure universities to stop diversity programs.
Last week, the White House demanded that the Smithsonian Institution, an organisation operating numerous museums in Washington, D.C., submit concept designs, exhibition plans, catalogues, and programs of all current exhibitions for review. The exact nature of the process that Trump's lawyers will initiate at the museums is not specified.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, "Woke is Broke," and later followed up with, "The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL." Trump criticized the Smithsonian for focusing on the negative aspects of the country's past, such as slavery, and neglecting successes, brilliance, and the future. He has also accused institutions in Washington and across the country of being the last remnants of "woke" culture.
The review process requires museums to submit documentation and update their exhibitions within specific deadlines. Museums are tasked with replacing language deemed ideologically driven with historically accurate and unifying descriptions. The administration plans to produce a report by early 2026 that will include assessments and recommendations for exhibition strategies going forward.
Some cultural institutions have expressed concern about the implications of this oversight on curatorial independence and the accurate representation of history. Critics argue that the administration's directive risks sanitizing or oversimplifying complex historical narratives to fit a politically motivated framework. However, the letter emphasizes collaboration and frames the effort as an opportunity to renew museums as trusted and inspiring institutions.
This change in approach has occurred with the power shift in Washington. Under Trump's predecessors, museums did not typically face presidential interventions. Trump's latest move has prompted mixed reactions, with some viewing it as an opportunity for renewal, while others accuse him of instigating a full-blown cultural war.
As of now, the Smithsonian Institution has not publicly responded to Trump's criticism. It remains to be seen what specific actions Trump plans to take against the Smithsonian Institution, if any.
[1] Source: The New York Times, "Trump Orders Review of Smithsonian Museums to Align with 'American Exceptionalism'," August 2025 [2] Source: The Washington Post, "Trump's Latest Criticism of Museums Sparks Mixed Reactions," August 2025
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