Trump criticizes the Smithsonian over historic exhibit
President Donald Trump continued to target the Smithsonian Museum as he said, “How bad is slavery?” He began reviewing the museum last week.
- The Trump administration is reviewing the American Indian National Museum as part of the Smithsonian wider evaluation.
- Museum exhibits show detailed treaties between the United States and Native American tribes, which were often broken.
- Another exhibition examines the use of Native American images and stereotypes in American popular culture.
- Visitors interviewed by USA Today felt that the museum offered a balanced view of history and there was no need to change.
As President Donald Trump attempts to rebuild the Smithsonian Institute, his administration includes a museum for reviews documenting Native American culture and history, including growing US migration.
The American Indian National Museum is one of eight sites the Trump administration plans to review first as part of a broader evaluation of Smithsonian offerings.
Trump has blown up the museum system, according to a social media post saying that he has “wake up” and “out of control” the museum system, and that “how scary our country is, how bad slavery is, and that it has not been slaughtered.”
The goal of the review was to “celebrate American exceptionalism, remove any divisive or partisan narratives, and restore confidence in shared cultural institutions,” according to a letter sent to the Smithsonian.
USA Today visited the US Indian National Museum, visited four other Smithsonian locations that were first reviewed by the Trump administration, documenting and explaining the exhibits.
Here’s what we found:
When was the National Museum of American Indians first opened?
The National Museum of American Indians is one of the Smithsonian’s recent projects at the National Mall. Previously a private museum in New York City, President George H.W. Bush signed a law to transfer collections to the federal government in 1989.
It will be more than a decade, more than a decade after the museum first opened its doors in Washington. The Smithsonian still runs a museum in New York.
What is inside the National Museum of American Indians?
Guests will walk by the buzzing water feature on their way to the entrance to the circular building. Museum people are greeted by several recreational recreation of wooden boats used by Native Americans.
They can stare at the spiral ceiling that can pour light into the building. On the first floor, tribal flags from both national and international sovereign Indian countries hang.
It is the top floor that is home to some who consider challenging history.
One of the most prominent exhibits is “Nation to State: Treaty Between the United States and the American Indian States.” The museum examines several treaties between the growing US and Native American tribes, which are said to be “often broken and sometimes forced.” It explains the various ways Native Americans and settlers recognized land ownership and how each party made a formal agreement.
It also explains what the tribes expected to get in collaboration with the US and how those promises were often broken. Many of the cases are tough, like Potawatomi’s country, which negotiated with the federal government in the hopes of staying in its upper Midwest homeland. The first deal gave it to the tribes, but the federal government pressured the tribes to sign some new agreements. The approximately 860 tribes were ultimately forced to march over 600 miles to Kansas. More than 40 people have died.
Another notable exhibition, “Americans,” examines how Native Americans are seen and portrayed in popular culture. They are sometimes cigarettes, sports teams, or car mascots. They are used to promote the Southwest of the United States, hotels, and corn starch.
The “American” exhibition also offers context for notable events in Native Americans and notable events relating to American history, such as the Path of Tears and the Little Bighorn Battle. A similar exam focuses on the legacy of Pocahontas and John Smith.
“In 1607, she was 11 years old and there was no romance in John Smith,” the exhibit at one point states.
What should the people at the museum say about the American Indian National Museum?
None of the people interviewed USA Today outside the museum felt that there was a need to change to address “Wokeness.” While some wondered whether the treaty might attract the administration’s attention, the museum people generally felt that they presented a balanced view of history, as in the case of Margo Nadeau and Joe Lanasa.
Both of my friends were visiting Syracuse, New York, wearing some form of American flag in their outfits. They are on the other side of the political spectrum. Nadeau likes playing cards. Ranatha isn’t. But they both feared political interference in the museum.
“I think history needs to say all the difficult things,” Nadeau said. Ranatha repeats her friend’s concerns and adding the ignorance of history leads to this recurring.
Rior Dahan, a native of Boston, visited the museum with his friend Jack Myers. The two are both wearing matching rainbow sunglasses, but they both say they know that museums on Native Americans in the US cover heavy topics. Still, it didn’t feel like it pushed the message, Dahan said.
“You draw your own conclusions,” he said, “Whatever they are.”
