President Trump Is Right About the Smithsonian
Finally, someone is brave enough to say it: museums have gone too far in showing history.
The Smithsonian, once a safe haven for dinosaur bones and portraits of great men, is now out of control. The National Museum of African American History and Culture had the audacity to suggest that American society privileges whiteness. Outrageous. Everyone knows whiteness was achieved the old-fashioned way: through merit, elbow grease, and the occasional slave economy.
The National Portrait Gallery is no better. Instead of hanging paintings of George Washington, it staged a modern dance performance about the border wall. Modern dance! Nothing says “national security” like a man in spandex rolling on the floor.
Meanwhile, the American History Museum now flies the Intersex-Inclusive Progress Pride flag at its entrance. Yes, the museum of American history is acknowledging that queer people exist in American history. What’s next—teaching kids that cowboys weren’t all straight?
The Portrait Gallery even commemorated people crossing the southern border illegally. This is a shocking break from tradition. We prefer to honor border crossings only when conducted by Europeans with muskets.
The National Museum of African Art truly bottomed out by featuring Drexciya, an underwater kingdom imagined as the children of enslaved women thrown overboard during the Middle Passage. Because nothing ruins a nice day at the museum like remembering history actually happened.
And the LGBTQ+ History exhibit? It catalogues identities from lesbian to “friend of Dorothy.” It even included essays on skateboarding. Skateboarding! How dare the museum suggest that queer people can balance on wheels when so many Americans can’t balance a checkbook.
Finally, the National Museum of the American Latino highlighted disabled, queer, plus-sized artists. The nerve. Everyone knows that Latino history should be limited to piñatas, tacos, and the occasional cameo in a Fast & Furious movie.
Trump is right. Museums should return to their rightful purpose: l muskets, busts of men, and maybe a stuffed bison. No dancing, no queerness, no weird art. History should be securitized for safe field trips.
Until then, the Smithsonian remains a dangerous place. Families may enter expecting dinosaurs and exit with the shocking knowledge that America has always been complicated.