On August 11, Trump announced the deployment of roughly 800 National Guard troops and 500 federal law enforcement officers to Washington, D.C., a city he has harshly criticized, calling it filled with “savagery, filth, and scum.” This move came despite city data from the Metropolitan Police Department showing violent crime at a 30-year low. Several Republican-led states — Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee — joined Ohio, South Carolina, and West Virginia in sending National Guard troops to the capital.
The following day, Trump shifted his focus to the Smithsonian museums. On his social media platform, he criticized what he called the “WOKE” nature of their exhibits, claiming they center too heavily on “how bad slavery was.” He also announced that his team would begin a review of the museums, a decision that has frustrated many museum-goers who see the Smithsonian as a vital institution for public education and historical preservation.
Trump claimed in a social media post that the Smithsonian focuses too heavily on portraying the struggles of marginalized groups, saying it emphasizes “how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been” and includes “nothing about success, nothing about brightness, nothing about the future.”
While the Blacksonian presents an often difficult chronological history of the U.S. beginning with slavery, it also features numerous galleries that highlight joy, resilience, and hope for the future.
Trump has indicated he may seek to cut federal funding for the Smithsonian Institution, similar to actions he’s taken against several elite universities. However, the Smithsonian holds a distinct status. Around 62% of its budget comes from federal funds, with the remainder supported by donations, endowments, and trust funds. It is also not part of the executive branch—rather, it is overseen by a 17-member Board of Regents.
In March, Trump signed an executive order accusing the Smithsonian of promoting a “divisive, race-centered ideology” and advancing narratives that depict American and Western values as inherently oppressive. The order grants Vice President JD Vance the authority to review Smithsonian programs and institutions, with the goal of removing what he has called “improper ideology.”
This marks a sharp contrast to Trump’s earlier stance. During his first term, he praised the National Museum of African American History and Culture, also known as the Blacksonian.
“I’m deeply proud that we now have a museum that honors the millions of African American men and women who built our national heritage, especially when it comes to faith, culture, and the unbreakable American spirit,” Trump said in 2017. “I know President [Barack] Obama was here for the museum’s opening last fall. And I’m honored to be the second sitting president to visit this great museum.”
It also seems to be a pivot from the declaration made at his former presidential rally in which he appeared proud of Black American history saying.
“You know, you’re just starting to get real credit for that, OK,” Trump said. “I don’t know if you know that, you’re just starting to get — you built the nation. We all built it, but you were such a massive part of it. Bigger than you were given credit for. Does that make sense?”
According to Pew Research, approximately 15% of Black voters supported Trump in 2024—up from just 8% in 2020?
Is it justified to threaten the Smithsonian’s funding when its mission is to preserve and present the full scope of American history specifically regarding Black Americans?
BY: BEWITTY Staff