Smithsonian flooding raises fears over Trump's "woke" crackdown
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The American History Museum suffered water damage Monday, according to the Smithsonian — sparking conspiracy theories on social media about Trump's "woke" crackdown.
Why it matters: Last week, the Trump administration released criticism of exhibits and artwork that it opposes at the Smithsonian's museums — and any changes, whether routine or emergency, are drawing backlash.
State of play: Smithsonian spokespersons, who first shared news of the sprinkler leak via Instagram, say it was caused by building work on the roof. A third of the museum was impacted, and visitors may see temporary closures or coverings.
- "Rapid response by museum staff contained the flooding and limited the impact on exhibits and collections," spokespersons tell Axios.
- Assessments "are ongoing" and artifacts "will continue to be evaluated and will be treated as necessary by the museum's conservation and collections teams."
- They say "The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden" exhibit is now "mostly open" after being temporarily closed.
Friction point: Some on social media jumped to conclusions that the disruption at the museum was connected to Trump's ongoing review.
- The Smithsonian didn't immediately return Axios' request for comment about such claims.
Catch up quick: Trump launched a tirade last week against "wokeism," in which the administration objected to specific exhibits and commemorations related to race, ethnicity, immigration, gender and sexuality.
- Among them: An American History Museum exhibit about Benjamin Franklin and slavery, and another on LGBTQ+ history.
- It comes after Trump instructed attorneys to "go through the Museums" as part of his nationwide crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
- Historians told Axios that the Trump administration's singular, sanitized approach to history is "anti-democratic."
Flashback: Last month, the American History Museum removed, and then restored with revisions, mentions of Trump's two impeachments from the presidency exhibit, saying that the removal was always meant to be temporary.
Zoom out: Other Smithsonian museums targeted by the Trump administration's latest scrutiny include the African American Museum, National Portrait Gallery and others, including two projects underway: The National Museum of the American Latino, and American Women's History Museum.
Go deeper: These are the "woke" Smithsonian exhibits targeted by Trump's White House