The attacks by President Donald Trump against the Smithsonian reveal the vision of American history which he wishes to impose. On its social network Truth Socialhe described the institution of“Out of control” and denounced what he considers to be an excessive focus of the museum on “How bad the slavery” was “.
This offensive extends the measures of the former president against certain civil rights and universities. He says he wants to apply the same methods to the Smithsonian as to higher education establishments, targeting in particular programs related to Palestine, transidentity, climate change and diversity.
For this, he advances a negative tone argument: “Everything that is discussed relates to the horror of our country, the gravity of slavery and on the inactedness of the oppressed – nothing about success, nothing on shine, nothing about the future”.
These words aroused reactions in the museum and university environment. Associations of historians and museums have denounced political instrumentalization. In the Washington PostMarjorie Schwarzer, a museum specialist, recalls that “Museums do not change direction overnight, especially the Smithsonian”. Beth English, director of the Organization of American Historians, believes that “Exhibitions based on evidence concerning slavery, civil rights and other aspects of the history of our country are explorations of a common past that the administration describes as” woke “to stifle any public debate on what our understanding of this story means for today’s Americans”.
A contrast appears between the first and the second term of Trump, the second being marked by a hardening of his policies against what he describes as “woke”. This orientation corresponds to a more explicit strategy since its re -election, intended to promote an idealized vision of the American nation.
