The article discusses the growing tension between the Trump administration’s effort to review and potentially revise the historical narratives presented at the Smithsonian museums and the backlash from Democrats who once supported the removal of historical statues. Critics argue that the left has long dominated cultural institutions, excluding perspectives that celebrate American exceptionalism, while the Trump administration seeks a more balanced historical account.
Democrats who cheered the toppling of statues of American heroes such as Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Teddy Roosevelt in 2020 are now deeply concerned that the Trump administration is seeking to curate the Smithsonian museums to better express American exceptionalism. This has led to a backlash from some Democratic figures, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who criticized the administration’s approach to curating the museums.
Walz, a self-proclaimed White guy taco connoisseur, expressed his disapproval of the Trump administration’s review of the Smithsonian museums’ exhibit content, arguing that trying to erase history is on the wrong side of it. However, he also raised questions about the legitimacy of past historical erasures, such as the illegal tearing down of a Christopher Columbus statue at his state Capitol in 2020.
The article cites an example of the Smithsonian’s own coverage of such events, highlighting a 2022 article that sympathetically described the vandalism of the Columbus statue, while ignoring the perspectives of Columbus supporters. This underscores the concern that the left has long dominated cultural institutions, excluding viewpoints that celebrate American greatness.
This discussion touches on a broader issue of who gets to decide how the story of the nation is told. The article notes that while the Trump administration seeks a more open and public process for revising historical narratives, the previous approach of removing statues without a formal process has led to criticism, particularly from some Democrats who now see a need for a more balanced historical account.
Overall, the article emphasizes the importance of transparency and public debate in shaping historical narratives, as well as the need for a more balanced approach that includes diverse perspectives, while also allowing room for celebrating American achievements.