CNN’s Jennings Claims Trump’s Smithsonian Critics Were Previously Cheering Monument Destruction
CNN commentator Scott Jennings accused critics of the Trump administration’s review of Smithsonian museum content of hypocrisy, pointing out that the same individuals who previously supported the destruction of monuments during the 2020 protests are now opposing the review. The Trump administration is reviewing Smithsonian content as part of a broader effort to ensure its exhibits align with President Trump’s ‘Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History’ executive order, aiming to remove divisive or partisan narratives.
The review has sparked debate over whether the focus on America’s accomplishments is erasure or emphasis, with tensions escalating over the legacy of historical figures and the teaching of history. On the program, panelists debated whether the choice to highlight America’s achievements and exceptionalism is an act of erasure or of emphasis, with one panelist noting that when one visits the National Air and Space Museum, they naturally would expect to see more focus on America’s Moon landing rather than the Challenger shuttle disaster of 1986.
Commentator S.E. Cupp compared the review to Russian overhauls of Ukrainian museums, suggesting a broader cultural agenda at play. She was later pressed on whether monuments depicting Italian explorer Christopher Columbus should be taken down and replied,