White House Launches Review of Smithsonian Museums to Ensure ‘Patriotic’ Vision

Three Trump administration officials said the review was intended to “remove divisive or partisan narratives” from Smithsonian Institution facilities.

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Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

The White House will conduct a review of the materials on display at eight Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C., three officials in President Donald Trump’s administration announced in a letter on Tuesday.

In a letter to the Smithsonian Institution secretary, Lonnie Bunch, three White House officials — including Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought — said the review would aim to “celebrate American exceptionalism” and “remove divisive or partisan narratives” from the museums.

The American History Museum, Natural History Museum, African American History and Culture Museum, American Indian Museum, Air and Space Museum, American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery and Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden are all set to undergo reviews, according to the letter. A phase-two review will include more of the institution’s museums, the letter said.