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Inside Trump’s Ideological Fight With the Smithsonian
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Lonnie G. Bunch III, head of the Smithsonian Institution, emphasized the museum's mission to provide nonpartisan scholarship that explores the complexity of American identity during the country's 250th anniversary.
- Bunch described the Smithsonian as a unifying entity that transcends political divisions, welcoming visitors from all backgrounds regardless of their political beliefs.
- Behind the scenes, the Smithsonian has faced intense pressure from President Trump and his allies, who accuse the institution of promoting "improper ideology" in its portrayal of American history and culture.
- The conflict reveals Trump's efforts to reshape the Smithsonian's narrative by challenging "wokeness," influencing exhibit content, and attempting to remove top leaders to align the institution with his own historical perspective.
