US President Donald Trump has once again taken aim at the Smithsonian Institution, accusing the world’s largest museum network of dwelling too much on America’s history of slavery. His remarks, shared on his Truth Social platform, sparked immediate backlash from historians who argue that telling the full story of slavery is not only necessary but vital for understanding America’s present.
In his post, Trump claimed the Smithsonian was “out of control,” saying its exhibitions portray the country negatively by emphasising slavery and racial injustice. The attack comes just a week after White House officials announced a comprehensive review of the institution’s work. Trump further revealed he has instructed lawyers to scrutinise what he calls “woke” content, echoing the cultural battles he has waged against US universities.
Founded in 1846, the Smithsonian oversees 21 museums — including the National Museum of African American History and Culture. For years, Trump has accused the institution of undermining national pride by highlighting uncomfortable truths such as the trans-Atlantic slave trade and segregation. But historians counter that slavery is one of the darkest chapters in human history and cannot be glossed over.
Between 12.5 million and 15 million Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas between the 16th and 19th centuries, with about 1.8 million dying on the journey. From the horrors of the Zong massacre, where over 130 captives were thrown overboard for insurance claims, to the brutal conditions of plantations, the violence was relentless. Families were torn apart, cultures erased, and generations scarred.
Beyond the human toll, slavery was the backbone of economic growth in Europe and the US. Cotton, sugar, rice, and tobacco plantations enriched elites, while millions of enslaved people were treated as property. The long shadow of this system is still visible today in economic inequality: US data shows white households hold nearly 10 times more wealth than black households.
Even after abolition, the trauma persisted through Jim Crow laws, segregation, and systemic discrimination. The Smithsonian argues that its exhibitions not only confront this painful past but also celebrate the resilience of enslaved communities who resisted, survived, and built culture in the face of oppression.
Trump’s attack has raised fears of political interference in museums. Scholars warn that forcing institutions to dilute slavery’s story would undermine historical integrity. “Museums are meant to tell the truth, not serve political agendas,” one historian stressed.
The Smithsonian has not officially responded to Trump’s latest remarks, but staff have previously defended their work as rooted in scholarship, not ideology. For historians, the debate goes beyond politics: it’s about whether America is willing to face its history honestly or retreat into selective memory.
