Smithsonian: Future of American History on the Trump – Bunch Table

U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for a revision of exhibits at the Smithsonian that refer to slavery and racial inequalities, drawing criticism that he is attempting to rewrite American history.

According to the New York Times, tensions peaked when Trump invited the institution's secretary, Lonnie Bunch, to the White House for lunch on August 28.

The meeting followed the government's demand for a review of exhibits in eight museums within 120 days, based on the executive order “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which aims to limit material that promotes “divisive” narratives.

Trump has accused the Smithsonian of focusing excessively on the dark aspects of history, while Bunch defended the institution's scientific integrity, assuring cooperation with the government, but without sacrificing the accuracy of history.

Scholars and curators have described Trump's initiative as an attempt at censorship.