President Donald Trump has set his sights on another D.C. institution he plans on remaking in his image – the Smithsonian.
On Tuesday afternoon, Trump fired off a message to his supporters on Truth Social, raging at the historical institution for focusing their museums on ‘how horrible our country is’ because of slavery.
The president, who recently took over the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts after firing the entire board, said museums are ‘the last remaining segment of “WOKE”’ in the country.
‘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, nothing about Brightness, nothing about the Future.’
Trump added, ‘We are not going to allow this to happen, and I have instructed my attorneys to go through the Museums, and start the exact same process that has been done with Colleges and Universities where tremendous progress has been made.’
He then claimed ‘country cannot be WOKE’ before declaring museums should promote the US as the ‘“HOTTEST” Country in the World.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Smithsonian for comment.
Trump’s latest attack against the historical society appears related to a White House initiative seeking to ensure Smithsonian museum exhibitions, materials, and operations align with the president’s view of American history.
Earlier this month, three top White House officials sent a letter to Lonnie Bunch, the secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, stating they plan on conducting a far-reaching review of the institution’s museums.
‘This initiative aims to ensure alignment with the president’s directive to celebrate American exceptionalism, remove divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in our shared cultural institutions,’ the White House letter states.
Trump wants the museums to showcase ‘unity, progress, and enduring values that define the American story.’
The White House has begun reviewing a wide-variety of areas at the Smithsonian, including their use of artist grants, exhibition planning, and exhibition text.
The Smithsonian responded to the letter stating their ‘work is grounded in a deep commitment to scholarly excellence, rigorous research, and the accurate, factual presentation of history.’
‘We are reviewing the letter with this commitment in mind and will continue to collaborate constructively with the White House, Congress, and our governing Board of Regents.’
The Smithsonian currently has a federal appropriation budget that exceeds $1 billion, while 62 percent of the institution is bankrolled by government funds.
Twenty-one museums are managed by the Smithsonian that include exhibits detailing the nation’s history with slavery.
Since the start of his second-term, the White House has targeted publicly funded cultural and educational centers, such as universities and colleges, that Trump has deemed as ‘woke.’