Trump Expands ‘Woke’ Criticism to National Museums, White House Plans Audits
Trump Expands ‘Woke’ Criticism to National Museums, White House Plans Audits
Former President Trump has escalated his ‘woke’ criticism, extending it beyond the Smithsonian Institution to encompass museums nationwide. In a recent social media post on Tuesday, Trump declared museums to be ‘essentially, the last remaining segment of “WOKE”,’ signaling a broader campaign against what he perceives as divisive narratives within cultural institutions.
The White House confirmed these intentions, stating that ‘President Trump will explore all options and avenues to get the Woke out of the Smithsonian and hold them accountable,’ with plans to expand the scrutiny to other museums. This follows an Aug. 12 letter to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch, where White House representatives indicated an upcoming audit of eight Smithsonian museums. The audit aims to ensure alignment with the President’s directive to promote ‘American exceptionalism,’ remove ‘divisive or partisan narratives,’ and restore confidence in these institutions.
Trump’s Truth Social post accused the Smithsonian of presenting a narrative focused on the negative aspects of American history, such as slavery, rather than celebrating success and the nation’s future. He vowed to prevent this, stating he has instructed attorneys to replicate the process used with colleges and universities, asserting that ‘WOKE IS BROKE.’
In response, major museum and historical associations, including the Organization of American Historians and the American Association for State and Local History, have voiced strong opposition. The American Alliance of Museums (AAM) issued an Aug. 15 statement condemning ‘growing threats of censorship against US museums,’ emphasizing that such pressures could create a ‘chilling effect’ across the entire sector. The AAM underscored the importance of freedom of thought and expression, asserting that museums uphold these values by providing spaces for honest, fact-based engagement with history, science, art, and culture. The White House has not commented on concerns that governmental review could infringe upon museums’ free speech rights.
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