Trump Administration Posts Examples of ‘Degeneracy’ at Smithsonian [Newsweek]

The Trump administration on Monday accused the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History of promoting “ideological activism” over historical scholarship, releasing a new White House report that argues exhibits on race, gender, immigration and sexuality have distorted the nation’s story.

A 162-page report, titled Saving America’s Story, was published by the White House Domestic Policy Council as part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing effort to reshape how American history is presented at federally supported cultural institutions ahead of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

The document alleges that the museum has moved away from its mission of preserving and teaching American history and instead advances what the administration describes as a politically driven narrative focused on oppression, identity and social justice causes.

The White House pulled out several of the report’s findings in a social media thread on Monday, pointing to museum displays and educational materials that administration officials described as examples of “degeneracy” and political activism.

A Smithsonian spokesperson told Newsweek: “For more than 180 years, the Smithsonian has served the American public with nonpartisan and independent scholarship, and we remain committed to doing so.”

What Does the White House Report Allege?

The report argues that the museum has adopted a framework focused on race, gender, immigration, economic inequality and sexuality, rather than what the administration considers a traditional telling of U.S. history.

Among the examples cited are exhibits discussing transgender identities, immigration activism, racial inequality and the legacy of slavery. The White House also criticized displays examining Indigenous displacement, colonialism and the experiences of marginalized groups.

One section focuses on the museum’s Girlhood (It’s Complicated) exhibition, which the administration says includes material related to gender identity and youth experiences. Another criticizes displays featuring LGBTQ history and culture, including exhibits that discuss transgender athletes and nonbinary individuals.

The report also objects to educational materials that encourage the use of terms such as “undocumented immigrant” rather than “illegal immigrant,” arguing that museum programming promotes political advocacy rather than historical education.

White House Criticizes Exhibits on America’s Founding

A central theme of the report is the claim that the museum has downplayed the role of the Founding Fathers and the American Revolution while emphasizing slavery, colonialism and systemic discrimination.

The administration criticizes exhibits that describe Christopher Columbus as a colonizer, discuss Thanksgiving as a National Day of Mourning for some Indigenous groups, or frame European settlement as the “unsettling” of the continent.

The report also argues that visitors encounter little information about George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other founders compared with exhibits focused on race, immigration and identity politics.

“No American wants the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History to be a system of ideological activism,” Vince Haley, director of the Domestic Policy Council, told Newsweek.

“Unfortunately, the report demonstrates that is exactly what the Smithsonian’s flagship museum has become. During this 250th anniversary year of our heroic founding, the least we owe our Founding Fathers is an honest and inspiring account of who they were, what they did, and what they built. It is our hope and expectation that the Smithsonian will eventually rise once again to that noble obligation—to tell America’s story for our children, the world, and future generations of Americans,” Haley said.

Latest Escalation in Trump’s Smithsonian Fight

Monday’s report is the latest step in a broader campaign by Trump to influence how the Smithsonian presents American history.

In March 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14253, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” directing Vice President JD Vance and other administration officials to work with the Smithsonian to remove what the order described as “improper ideology” from federally supported museums and programs.

The administration has repeatedly argued that some Smithsonian exhibits portray the United States primarily through the lens of racism, oppression and social conflict rather than national achievement and progress.

The dispute has also extended to exhibits dealing with Trump himself.

In 2025, the Smithsonian came under scrutiny after temporarily removing references to Trump’s two impeachments from a display in the National Museum of American History’s presidential exhibition. Following criticism, the institution said a future update would include all presidential impeachments.

Previous White House Objections to Smithsonian Exhibits

The new report builds on an August 2025 White House review that identified dozens of exhibits, artworks and educational programs the administration claimed reflected “woke” or ideological narratives.

Among the exhibits previously singled out were displays discussing slavery’s legacy, immigration, transgender history, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and a proposed National Museum of the American Latino.

The White House also criticized a Smithsonian exhibit examining Benjamin Franklin’s relationship to slavery, arguing it unfairly emphasized his slave ownership rather than his broader contributions to American history.

Administration officials said the 2025 review was intended to ensure Smithsonian museums present a “positive view of American history” ahead of the semiquincentennial celebrations in 2026.

Funding Threats and Ongoing Review

The report arrives months after the White House threatened to withhold Smithsonian funding if the institution failed to provide records related to exhibitions, planning documents and educational materials as part of an ongoing review.

The Smithsonian, which receives roughly two-thirds of its budget from federal appropriations, has said it remains committed to sharing information while maintaining that curatorial and content decisions are made by the institution itself.

Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Rebecca Flood and Emma Lee-Sang.

Update 07/07/26, 09:30 a.m. ET: This story was updated with comment from Director of the Domestic Policy Council Vince Haley.

Update 07/07/26, 10:45 a.m. ET: This story was updated with comment from the Smithsonian.

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