Smithsonian artists and scholars respond to White House list of objectionable art : NPR

Culture Smithsonian artists and scholars respond to White House list of objectionable art

August 24, 20255:07 AM ET, Heard on Weekend Edition Sunday

By Mandalit del Barco, 5-Minute Listen Transcript

The official White House newsletter has posted an article titled “President Trump Is Right About the Smithsonian.” It calls out some of the institution’s artwork, exhibitions, programs and online articles that focus on race, slavery, immigration and sexuality. That includes works at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, The National Portrait Gallery, and The National Museum of the American Latino.

Culture

White House calls for a ‘comprehensive review’ of eight Smithsonian museums

The list of objectionable content comes a week after White House officials sent a letter asking eight of the Smithsonian’s museums to submit their current and future plans for exhibitions, social media content and other material. The institution’s director, Lonnie Bunch, was told it had 120 days to comply for what the administration says will be a “comprehensive review” in order to bring the Smithsonian in line with Trump’s cultural directives ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations.

The administration has directed the museums to replace “divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate and constructive descriptions.”

NPR reached out to the White House asking for comment about the article highlighting the Smithsonian artists. They have not responded.

The list of artists and content seems to be drawn from art that was highlighted in a recent article in The Federalist. The conservative online magazine argued that the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, for example, was filled with “wall-to-wall, anti-American propaganda.”

The Smithsonian’s press office declined NPR’s offer to comment on the White House list. In June, it sent out a statement saying the institution is committed to remaining “free from political or partisan influence.”

While some of the artists and scholars NPR spoke to said they fear being further targeted, others said that being called out by the White House is a “badge of honor.” Some referenced other times, in the U.S. and around the world, when art provoked a strong political response; and some said they fear that Trump’s call for “anti-woke” art will have a chilling effect on artists, museums and galleries.

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