These are the "woke" Smithsonian exhibits targeted by Trump's White House
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A sign marks the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall on Aug. 20 in Washington, D.C. Photo: J. David Ake/Getty Images
The Trump administration on Thursday released criticism of exhibits and artwork that it opposes at Smithsonian museums.
Why it matters: In a tirade against "woke," the Trump administration objected exhibits and commemorations related to race, ethnicity, immigration, gender and sexuality.
What they're saying: "President Donald J. Trump is right: the Smithsonian Institution is out of control," the White House said in a statement.
- The White House added: "The Smithsonian's embrace of woke ideology distorts history and erodes public trust."
- Spokespeople for the Smithsonian Institution and individual museums did not respond to Axios' request for comment.
Driving the news: Trump earlier this month instructed attorneys to "go through the Museums" as part of his nationwide crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
- Trump signed a March executive order to remove what he deems "improper ideology" from Smithsonian museums.
- Historians told Axios that the Trump administration's singular, sanitized approach to history is "anti-democratic."
Between the lines: Last month, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History removed, and then restored, mentions of Trump's two impeachments from an exhibit, saying that the references were meant to be temporary.
- The White House list mirrors an Aug. 15 article from The Federalist, a conservative online magazine, objecting to the work at several museums.
State of play: In the Thursday White House article, the Trump administration targeted the National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of American History, National Museum of African Art, National Museum of the American Latino, and American Women's History Museum.
- The last two have not yet broken ground on buildings.
The administration highlighted:
- A painting showing immigrants crossing the southern border at the National Portrait Gallery.
- An exhibit on LGBTQ+ history at the American History Museum, taking issue with an article on drag ball culture.
- Programming at the Latino Gallery at the National Museum of American History about Latinos with disabilities.
- A stop-motion drawing of infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci at the National Portrait Gallery.
- A depiction of the Statue of Liberty at the American History Museum holding tomatoes instead of a torch and tablet.
- An American History Museum exhibit about Benjamin Franklin and slavery.
Go deeper: What historians say is at risk if Trump expands his culture war beyond Smithsonian
