by Molly Schecter ‘27

President Donald Trump, members of his administration, and supporters often use the term “wokeism” to criticize what they say is an over-emphasis on race and social justice. On March 27, Trump signed the executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which claims that over the past decade, American history has been rewritten by ideological divisive narratives rather than providing the truth of the country’s exceptionalism. Trump claims that museums and exhibits which recognize and memorialize adversities and challenges faced historically by minorities in America undermine the achievements and pride of the nation’s history, and construct it to be racist, sexist, oppressive, and flawed.

More specifically, the order targets the Smithsonian Institution and its museums located in Washington D.C., ordering the Vice President and the Director of Management and Budget to collaborate with Congress to filter Smithsonian’s exhibits and programs. On August 12, the White House sent a letter to the Smithsonian secretary, Lonnie Bunch, requesting a review of eight of its museums to be sure that the museums align with the president’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions. The Administration’s stated goal is to analyze everything — exhibition texts, social media content, exhibition planning — and implement content corrections within 120 days.

Since examining the Smithsonian museums, the White House has come out with a list of exhibits it finds inappropriate. For instance, on the list is an exhibit from the American History Museum, including a drawing of migrants looking at Independence Day fireworks through an opening in the U.S.-Mexico border. Next to the drawing is a description, describing how for a long time, U.S. leaders have “feared non-white immigration” and described them as “invaders.” Around the same time in August that the list was released, Trump shared his opinion through a social media post on Truth Social.

“The Smithsonian is OUT OF CONTROL, where everything discussed is how horrible our country is, how bad slavery was, and how unaccomplished the downtrodden have been — Nothing about success,” wrote Trump. “This country cannot be WOKE, because WOKE IS BROKE. We have the ‘HOTTEST’ Country in the World, and we want people to talk about it, including in our Museums,” he continued.

In an interview with Michelle Martin of NPR, Georgetown University Professor Lisa Strong stated her concern that museum personnel, who are often experts in their fields, will face pressure to shift towards ideology. “It’s their job to know their collection and interpret it, and it should be done based on the collection and not based on the government standing over your shoulder and saying, I think you should say this or that … Museums need to maintain the public trust, and they do that through independence of thought,” stated Strong.

Throughout the conflict, high pressure has forced Smithsonian employees and artists to step back. Artist Amy Sherald, whose artwork was listed in the White House newsletter, cancelled her upcoming show at the Smithsonian Art Gallery. In another NPR segment, art historian and Stanford University Professor Richard Meyer says that he fears that up-and-coming artists will begin censoring themselves — which he calls the worst kind of censorship because “you never see the work or it’s never made.’”