THE SMITHSONIAN’S QUANDARY

IN 1829, ENGLISH SCIENTIST JAMES SMITHSON bequeathed his estate to the United States to establish an institution for “the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” The Smithsonian Institution followed in 1846 and has continued with these lofty goals—until recent challenges.

The Smithsonian flag.

My evidence of this lies in two recent news articles: “Historians Alarmed by White House Plan to Oversee Smithsonian Exhibits,” by Graham Bowley, Jennifer Shuessler, and Robin Pogrebin, The New York Times, August 13, 2025, and “American History Won’t Be Displayed ‘in a Woke Manner’ at Smithsonian, Trump Says,” by Diana Stacy, Fox News, August 14, 2025.

I encourage SimanaitisSays readers to read each of these and decide which better meets Smithson’s “increase and diffusion of knowledge.” My views are interspersed with tidbits gleaned from each article.

On Rewriting History, Stripping Truth. The New York Times Bowley, Schuessler, and Pogrebin write, “Historians and free speech advocates have begun to speak out to express their alarm at the White House’s announcement of a wide-ranging review of exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution’s museums and galleries.” 

They recount, “The free expression group PEN America said it feared the review ‘will rewrite history and strip truth from exhibits,’ while Sarah Weicksel, the executive director of the American Historical Association, described the Trump administration move as a ‘major overstep.’ ”

The New York Times trio observes, “The White House’s announced review is a challenge to the Smithsonian, which has traditionally operated as an independent institution and regards itself as being outside the control of the executive branch. It is governed by a 17-member Board of Regents that includes Democrats and Republicans and is overseen by Congress.”

Alas, but this last phrase “overseen by Congress” has been repeatedly ignored and abused by the Queens Felon’s mob in a variety of circumstances.

Trump’s Comment. Fox News’ Diana Stacy quotes Trump: “Our museums have an obligation to represent what happened in our country over the years. Good and bad.” 

An admirable comment until one continues reading: “We want their museums,” says Trump, “to talk about the history of our country in a fair manner, not in a woke manner or in a racist manner, which is what many of them, not all of them, but many of them are doing.”

See “On ‘Woke’ Words,” here at SimanaitisSays. Of course, there’s a recurring theme of “diversity, equity, and inclusiveness” becoming pejoratives when hitherto they were seen as positive values. 

Stephen Miller’s View. Fox News also cites: “Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, weighed in on the matter earlier Thursday, saying left-wing activists had ‘obscenely defaced’ the museum.” He is quoted further: “The Smithsonian is supposed to be a global symbol of American strength, culture and prestige,” Miller posted to X Thursday. “A place for families and children to celebrate American history and greatness. Instead, the exhibits have clearly been taken over by leftwing activists who have used the Smithsonian as yet one platform to endlessly bash America and rewrite / erase our magnificent story.”

Geez. Once again, Trump and his mob ascribe to their foes the very sins they themselves commit. What about the Smithsonian’s weaseling/quandary concerning Trump being the only twice-impeached president, his denial of the 2020 election results, and his involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol?

A Direct Shot Across the Bow. The New York Times observes, “The ‘comprehensive review’ announced Tuesday is a more direct shot across the bow. It will consider all current and planned exhibitions at eight Smithsonian museums, scouring wall text, websites and social media ‘to assess tone, historical framing and alignment with American ideals.”

The Times researchers continue, “Under the review announced in a letter sent to Lonnie G. Bunch III, the secretary of the Smithsonian, the museums will be required to adjust any content that the administration finds problematic within 120 days, ‘replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate and constructive descriptions.’ ”

And who’s to say what’s “problematic” or “ideologically driven,” or “historically accurate”? I would hope it to be professional historians. But Stephen Miller?? The Queens Felon?? 

Hadar Harris is managing director of PEN America’s Washington, D.C., office, and says that curators and historians should be able to work without political interference. 

She emphasizes “The administration’s efforts to rewrite history are a betrayal of our democratic traditions and a deeply concerning effort to strip truth from the institutions that tell our national story, from the Smithsonian to our national parks. The ideas and presentation of history cannot be subject to the whims of a single leader or administration.”

Of course, I am not trained as a historian, but I surely agree about whims of a single leader or administration. ds 

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2025