The White House on Monday leveled accusations of "extreme political activism" against the Smithsonian Institution's leadership, asserting that the network of 21 museums is failing to adequately celebrate the United States. The criticism was detailed in a 162-page report, commissioned by President Trump last year, which concluded that the institution's current leadership "cannot be trusted to tell America’s story honestly and in a way that is inspiring, unifying, and worthy of our great republic."
The report, released on Independence Day, stated that the National Museum of American History (NMAH) has become "subject to institutional capture by a radical, activist ideology that is fundamentally opposed to telling the noble, honest story of the great country we know and love." This release date was seen by some observers as potentially signaling a prelude to efforts by the Trump administration to significantly alter the Smithsonian Institution's leadership.
President Trump had previously indicated in March 2025 his desire to combat "divisive narratives" and "improper ideology" within the Smithsonian's museums. The National Museum of American History faced specific criticism for allegedly minimizing the role of the Founding Fathers and treating traditional patriotic narratives with suspicion.
The report highlighted statements from NMAH Director Anthea Hartig, who has led the museum since 2019. According to the report, Hartig has described history as a "prime tool of social justice" and noted efforts to "reframe the traditional celebratory narrative of U.S. history for visitors." The report also quoted Hartig as saying, "She claims to have had a personal head start 'propped up as I was and I am by the cushions of whiteness and the pillows of the bourgeoisie.'"
Further, the report noted Hartig's purported views on the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, suggesting she believes the museum profession must "figure out' how 'we're going to' 'problematize' the '250th Anniversary... [and] that 'loving America is very complicated.'"
The panel also criticized the museum for removing "infinite richness" and "American history" from its mission statement. The White House alleged that the museum adheres to a policy ensuring its exhibits connect to identity-related themes, including "race/identity, gender/sexuality, climate change, immigration/migrations, economic inequality, technological change, and nationalism/globalism."
Hartig was also cited regarding her approach to exhibits, with the report quoting her saying, "It’s hard to get out of the 'America First' mentality, and that’s—we didn’t talk much about that, but we wrestle—I wrestle—with that all the time." She reportedly suggested exhibits should encompass "the entirety of the Americas, not just our part of North America."
The domestic policy council's report also referenced lectures by Hartig, alleging advocacy for undocumented immigrants, and criticized the museum's "Girlhood (it’s complicated) exhibit" and its anti-racism displays. The report concluded, "In short, NMAH’s repeated message to young visitors is: ‘Be a social and political activist.'"
A spokesperson for the Smithsonian rejected the complaints, asserting that its museums are non-partisan and have "served the American public with nonpartisan and independent scholarship" for over 180 years.