Smithsonian faces content review over ‘one-sided, divisive’ portrayal of American culture

The Trump administration has set its eyes on the taxpayer-funded Smithsonian over the “one-sided, divisive political narratives” the group of museums has been preaching.

“American taxpayers should not be funding institutions that undermine our country or promote one-sided, divisive political narratives,” White House official Lindsey Halligan told Fox News.

“The Smithsonian Institution should present history in a way that is accurate, balanced, and consistent with the values that make the United States of America exceptional,” she added.

As an example, consider some of the nonsense that’s being preached at the National Museum of American History’s “Entertainment Nation” exhibit.

Ever wish that pop culture featured more prominently in museums? Look no further than the new “Entertainment Nation” exhibit at the National Museum of American History, where everything from Dizzy Gillespie’s trumpet to Muhammad Ali’s robe to @steveaoki‘ mixer surfaces. pic.twitter.com/d5LI3kUXwE

— Andrew Simon (@simongandrew) January 8, 2024

Designed to explore American pop culture, the exhibit contains a whole host of left-wing buzzwords and ideas. For instance, a placard reportedly featured alongside a 1923 circus poster contains language about so-called “colonialism.”

“Under the big top, circuses expressed the colonial impulse to claim dominion over the world,” the placard reads.

Meanwhile, another placard reportedly describing early American entertainment accuses the U.S. of being steeped in “extraordinary violence.”

“One of the earliest defining traits of entertainment in the United States was extraordinary violence,” the placard reads.

The exhibit also reframes iconic American characters through a politically charged lens.

“The White title character’s relationship with Tonto resembled how the U.S. government imagined itself the world’s Lone Ranger,” the exhibit says about The Lone Ranger.

Even the exhibit’s description of Mickey Mouse is steeped in left-wing claptrap.

“Mickey challenged authority, but not everyone was in on the joke,” the exhibit says. “Mickey Mouse debuted as the deckhand ‘Steamboat Willie’ in 1928, amidst a rising anxiety felt by many that modern living and city life were eroding family and community ties and loosening moral codes.

“But the new character’s outsized facial features, white gloves, and trickster temperament were vestiges of longstanding traditions of blackface minstrelsy,” the exhibit continues.

Doing research on various federal cultural agencies, including the Smithsonian Institution. Here’s the results for a generic Google search for exhibits at the Museum of American History.

It’s all like this. It’s 100% DEI-core. It has to go. We have to start over. pic.twitter.com/lPEpcoUClP

— Lomez (@L0m3z) March 2, 2025

Halligan told Fox News that these examples “are part of the problem the Trump Administration aims to fix.”

“Framing American culture as inherently violent, imperialist, or racist does not reflect the greatness of our nation or the millions of Americans who have contributed to its progress,” she added.

She further confirmed that the Trump administration has begun a top-to-bottom content review of the exhibit.

“We are working with leadership at the Smithsonian to audit and review all content at the museums, and we are committed to ensuring that such content honors our country’s founding principles, tells the stories of American heroes, and does not promote fringe or activist ideologies masquerading as history,” she revealed.

The same museum that Obama was speaking about, National Museum of African-American history & culture, and culture, is now separating White and Blacks based on race.

Tell me how we’re not going back centuries.

What’s next? Separate eateries, fountains and busses? Scary times. pic.twitter.com/Ww7bgWkJI2

— (@SKYRIDER4538) July 16, 2020

In a statement to Fox News, the Smithsonian said that it’s working in tandem with the Trump administration to fix these problems.

“The museum is committed to continuous and rigorous scholarship and research and unbiased presentation of facts and history. As such, and as previously announced, we are assessing content in Smithsonian museums and will make any necessary changes to ensure our content meets our standards,” the museum said.

All this comes after President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March directing the Board of Regents to eliminate “improper, divisive or anti-American ideology” from the Smithsonian.

“This revisionist movement seeks to undermine the remarkable achievements of the United States by casting its founding principles and historical milestones in a negative light,” his order read.

“Under this historical revision, our Nation’s unparalleled legacy of advancing liberty, individual rights, and human happiness is reconstructed as inherently racist, sexist, oppressive, or otherwise irredeemably flawed,” it continued.

Senior Staff Writer
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V. Saxena is a staff writer for BizPac Review with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University.

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