Trump again targets Smithsonian, says it focuses too much on ‘how bad slavery was’
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The White House said last week that it will lead an internal review of some Smithsonian museums.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump suggested on Aug 19 that he will pressure the Smithsonian Institution – a premier museum, education and research complex for US history and culture – to accept his demands, just like he did with colleges and universities by threatening to cut federal funding.
In a social media post, he complained about what he called excessive focus on “how bad slavery was”.
“I have instructed my attorneys to go through the museums and start the exact same process that has been done with colleges and universities, where tremendous progress has been made,” he said on his Truth Social platform.
The Smithsonian, which was established in 1846 and includes 21 museums and galleries and the National Zoo, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Most of its museums are in Washington.
The White House said last week that it will lead an internal review of some Smithsonian museums after Mr Trump earlier in the year accused it of spreading “anti-American ideology” and raised alarm among civil rights advocates.
When asked if he would threaten funding cuts to the Smithsonian based on the findings, a White House official said: “President Trump will explore all options and avenues to get the woke out of the Smithsonian and hold them accountable.”
The US leader wrote: “The Smithsonian is out of control, where everything discussed is how horrible our country is, how bad slavery was and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been – nothing about success, nothing about brightness, nothing about the future.”
The Smithsonian receives most of its budget from US Congress, but is independent of the government in decision-making.
Civil rights advocates say Mr Trump’s administration is undoing decades of social progress and undermining the acknowledgement of critical phases of American history.
Racial justice group Black Lives Matter said on social media platform X that Mr Trump’s post showed that he wanted to lock the country in a “fairy tale” and deny the atrocities of slavery.
Mr Trump has made threats to cut federal funding of top US educational institutions, citing pro-Palestinian protests against US ally Israel’s war in Gaza, transgender policies, climate initiatives and diversity, equity and inclusion programmes.
The government in July settled its probes into Columbia University
Both institutions accepted certain government demands. Talks to settle with Harvard University are ongoing. REUTERS
