THE WHITE HOUSE IS ORDERING A WIDE-RANGING REVIEW OF THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUMS AND EXHIBITIONS AHEAD OF THE COUNTRY'S 250TH BIRTHDAY TO ALIGN ITS CONTENT WITH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S INTERPRETATION OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

IN A LETTER SENT TO THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION SECRETARY, THE WHITE HOUSE LAID OUT THE STEPS IT EXPECTS THE ORGANIZATION TO TAKE.

THE EXAMINATION WILL LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA, EXHIBITION TEXT AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, TO “ASSESS TONE, HISTORICAL FRAMING, AND ALIGNMENT WITH AMERICAN IDEALS.”

CIVIL RIGHTS LEADERS HAVE CRITICIZED THE ADMINISTRATION’S PARTICULAR FOCUS ON THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE AS EFFORTS TO MINIMIZE BLACK AMERICANS’ CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE COUNTRY.

HOLLY BREWER, THE BURKE PROFESSOR OF AMERICAN HISTORY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, SAID SHE HAD MAJOR CONCERNS OVER THE REVIEW.

SOUNDBITE (English) Holly Brewer, Burke Professor of American History, University of Maryland:

"They seem pretty clear that they want an exceptionalist narrative, to use their word, that avoids any, any issues that might cast the US history in a bad light. Even though the Smithsonian is impartial, there are many parts of US history that aren't completely comfortable, including questions related to slavery, for example. It really does look like, an effort to coerce people into saying things that that might not even be true, and certainly to remain silent about things that are important. The instructions seem to be purposely arguing for censoring difficult parts of the American past.”

THE SMITHSONIAN SAID IT REMAINED COMMITTED TO “SCHOLARLY EXCELLENCE, RIGOROUS RESEARCH, AND THE ACCURATE, FACTUAL PRESENTATION OF HISTORY."