The Smithsonian has designated its Arts and Industries Building as the permanent home for the National Museum of the American Latino, a decision that has reignited criticism from those who argue the museum promotes a "woke" and "Marxist" ideology. Critics contend this move allows the institution to proceed without facing another contentious congressional approval process.
Mike Gonzalez, a scholar at the Heritage Foundation and a vocal critic of the museum, stated that the selection of the Arts and Industries Building is an effort to circumvent a potential battle on Capitol Hill. He has previously examined the museum's inaugural exhibition, "¡Presente!," and alleged that it promotes a far-left worldview.
"We need to fire the Smithsonian leadership. We need to get rid of the Latino museum. It needs to be de-authorized. It should not exist," Gonzalez said. He added that the Smithsonian's decision to place the museum in a building it already controls, rather than on National Park Service land, is intended to avoid further public and congressional scrutiny.
Gonzalez's report highlights exhibits that he claims feature an "anti-Western, anti-American worldview." He pointed to the phrase "we didn't cross the border, the border crossed us" as a historically inaccurate slogan favored by those critical of immigration enforcement. He argued this narrative frames westward expansion primarily through displacement, overlooking the history of Mexican individuals who remained in territories that later became part of the United States.
Other exhibits noted in Gonzalez's report include themes of gender identity and the inclusion of figures he described as "Marxist luminaries." One panel discussed Jose Julio Sarria, described as "the first openly gay person to run for public office in the U.S.," and another featured a Cuban transgender HIV/AIDS activist. Gonzalez characterized these inclusions as fostering grievances and promoting a narrative detached from mainstream American history.
The report also draws attention to an exhibit on Orlando Letelier, a former minister under Chilean President Salvador Allende. Gonzalez argues that Letelier's inclusion is not an "American story" but rather a reflection of the curators' alleged Marxist leanings, despite Letelier's death in Washington D.C. occurring in 1976.
Gonzalez, whose father was imprisoned in Cuba before Fidel Castro's rise to power, criticized the museum's portrayal of Cuban history, stating it omits the oppressive reign of the Castro brothers and includes content that he believes misrepresents the impact of socialism. The exhibition reportedly features a cartoon mocking the U.S. for the Iran-Contra affair.
During congressional hearings in July, Gonzalez testified alongside Anthea Hartig, Director of the National Museum of American History, regarding concerns about the Smithsonian's exhibits. The Smithsonian has declined to comment on Gonzalez's report or his remarks.
Lonnie Bunch III, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, announced his retirement shortly after these criticisms gained wider attention. He had served with the institution for four decades. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., a Smithsonian Regent who also fled Cuban socialism, stated that the Smithsonian should uphold standards befitting a "crown jewel" of the United States, emphasizing the need for fairness and balance in its presentations.